Our 4th of July this year was very different than the celebration that we had planned. Instead of the usual backyard cookout with family and friends, followed by fireworks in the evening, we attended the funeral for our nephew, Jared.
Jared was serving in the U.S. Army, deployed to Afghanistan, and his motorized patrol was attacked by insurgents using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Jared and another soldier died in the attack.
We are proud of Jared, who was serving Army Airborne, had previously been deployed to Iraq, and was issued the Bronze Star for his sacrificial actions.
The picture below was from a newspaper article online, showing Jared on his way home as he arrived on the east coast.
We also appreciate very much the Patriot Guard, a group of bikers that attends funerals for soldiers, paying respects and protecting the family from possible protesters, who did show up but had no impact as they were not seen by many, and not seen at all by the family. With over 20,000 members on B&B, there's a possibility that some of you may participate in the Patriot Guard, and if so, our family's heartfelt "thanks" goes out to you. The picture below, of the Patriot Guard leading the funeral procession into the cemetary as well as standing and holding flags along the route, was taken by our hometown newspaper, and was wrapped around the entire front and back page so that you had to fully open the newpaper to see the full picture. So many others joined the Patriot Guard with flags that the streets were lined on both sides for many blocks. It lifted the spirits of our family more than anyone can imagine.
And of course I want to express our appreciation for those of you who are currently serving, and have served in the military to ensure we continue to have the freedom that is even more precious to our family today.
I hope that it is okay to post this type of thread. I just want folks to know that Patriotism is very much alive and well today, and I believe that is just as much true in other coutries around the world as in the U.S.A.
Thanks.
Jared was serving in the U.S. Army, deployed to Afghanistan, and his motorized patrol was attacked by insurgents using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Jared and another soldier died in the attack.
We are proud of Jared, who was serving Army Airborne, had previously been deployed to Iraq, and was issued the Bronze Star for his sacrificial actions.
The picture below was from a newspaper article online, showing Jared on his way home as he arrived on the east coast.
We also appreciate very much the Patriot Guard, a group of bikers that attends funerals for soldiers, paying respects and protecting the family from possible protesters, who did show up but had no impact as they were not seen by many, and not seen at all by the family. With over 20,000 members on B&B, there's a possibility that some of you may participate in the Patriot Guard, and if so, our family's heartfelt "thanks" goes out to you. The picture below, of the Patriot Guard leading the funeral procession into the cemetary as well as standing and holding flags along the route, was taken by our hometown newspaper, and was wrapped around the entire front and back page so that you had to fully open the newpaper to see the full picture. So many others joined the Patriot Guard with flags that the streets were lined on both sides for many blocks. It lifted the spirits of our family more than anyone can imagine.
And of course I want to express our appreciation for those of you who are currently serving, and have served in the military to ensure we continue to have the freedom that is even more precious to our family today.
I hope that it is okay to post this type of thread. I just want folks to know that Patriotism is very much alive and well today, and I believe that is just as much true in other coutries around the world as in the U.S.A.
Thanks.
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