HEALING & SUPPORT

Iraq War

From: Colleen Gara
North Carolina

“My brother SSG Sean P. Huey was killed in action 11 Nov 04. Sean was a very dedicated soldier and loved what he was doing. He had a million different ways to make you laugh. He was my idol and best friend and now, he is my hero. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of him and miss him. If I would have known that 16 Jun 04 was the last time I would hold him, I would never have let him go. I miss you Sean. I am proud of you and I will finish out my Air Force career for the both of us. All my love, Colleen.”

From: Colorado

"In June 2003 my son was to have married Capt. Tamara Long Archuleta. Instead of walking her down the aisle, he accompanied her coffin home from Afghanistan. Capt. Archuleta and her entire crew died in a helicopter crash on March 23, 2003. She will be remembered for her strength, her dedication, her intelligence and her beauty.”

From: New Mexico

"Adam and Jerome,
It is now more than a year since that day. We stood together on that street so far from home. I’ll never forget the sound and the way we all jumped in surprise. Jerome, I’m so sorry it happened so quickly to you. I never got to say another word to you. I still have the cross you drew me with the prayer attached. Adam, we were all astonished that you were only wounded in the leg – or so we thought for a few minutes. I will never be able to thank you enough for giving your life for mine that day and ushering me behind that Bradley. I watched this concert last night and I’m watching it again tonight. I want you to know I enjoyed every moment I spent with you guys right up until the last. I’m married now and every now and then my wife asks me about what it was like over there. I can give people little bits and pieces and my stories but they’ll never be complete until we meet again when we walk together in Heaven. Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor! I miss you all everyday.”

From: Glen Twyman
California

"March 4, 2005, the saddest day of my life. Wade, I never thought I would change the "Blue Star" in our window to "Gold," but that day became a reality. It will take me a lifetime to describe the loss of your life to Burke, Cade and Aden. They loved you and cry often while remembering you. Definitely not good-bye, but till later BRO!!"

From: Linda Persing "Our hearts are broken with the loss of you, Kevin. Thank you for all you did. We will never forget you. You're loved and desperately missed." Kevin was killed on March 21, 2005."

From: Jeanine Hart Seaman
California

”I am so thankful for the men and women who are willing to fight for our freedom. My family, for several generations, has put their lives on the line for this country, thinking they were the last generation and this country was safe from invasion. My father was a disabled veteran from WWII. On September 11, my younger brother, John, died in the WTC, our family's first casualty, and the country's first sign of things to come.

”I thank God every day for our president, his wife and family, and his staff for doing the right thing. His steadfast devotion to the war on terror and to preserving our safety and our way of life.

”Memorial Day was always a sacred day for me and holds many memories of good times with family and respect for our Veterans. It is now a ‘living memorial day,’ as we continue our fight and send the next generation of Americans warriors into battle and remember those who do not return to their families alive. My heart goes out to them. God Bless America and our military.”

From: Jeanne Butts
Ohio

"With Memorial Day approaching, my heart aches even more than usual. I will be in D.C. to attend the Memorial Day Ceremonies and also to visit my father's gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery. I will also be honoring my son, Sgt. Thomas Butts, Jr. United States Army, who has been in Iraq since March. My son is a very fortunate soldier since he has with him his grandfather’s (my father's) field jacket. A veteran of Korea and Vietnam, my father has always been my hero. I was very fortunate growing up to have my father return home from Korea twice and Vietnam twice. He passed away three years ago. I am very proud of my son and of all the other sons and daughters that are overseas protecting us. I have the ‘Blue Star’ in my front window to show the world my pride. GOD BLESS AMERICA."

From: Deborah Bentrem
Tennessee

"I would like to say how proud our family is of our son-in-law Corporal Jason D. Fisher. He was killed on November 14, 2002 while on a training mission before his deployment to Iraq. He fought in Afghanistan, and even though he did not die in combat, we still feel that he died to help defend our country and we will always be proud of him. We miss him very much even though he was only married to our daughter for less then a year. We couldn't be anymore prouder of him. He'll always be in our hearts."

From: Nancy and Bob Kleinhans
Pennsylvania

"Thank you, Brandon Rowl, for giving your life for Iraqi freedom. You served and fought along side my son Chris. You will be remembered with love."

From: Kathryn Bailey
Colorado

"My heart goes to those who have lost a loved one in this most recent conflict. I am from a real small community, and we lost one of our own, Randy Rosaker (spelling). He was a Marine who fought for this county. This war hit home, but like everywhere else also. Randy was such a young man whose life was ahead of him, but I have to give many thanks for this man, because he made it a safer place for my children, and their children. Not only him but all those who have died in this latest conflict. So on this day of remembrance, I will always remember you and say thank you!!"

REFLECTIONS

“Thank you, James, for your ultimate sacrifice you made for your country. It was your dedication as a soldier and man that helped me through that terrible year in Nam. Soldiers like you are what make our freedoms so special. I thank God for people like you and will make sure your sacrifices will never be forgotten.”

Veteran in Virginia