How can it be that you grew up so fast - from a young boy to a dashing young soldier who fought for our country? I remember the small talks we had when you found out you had been drafted into the army. Your eyes were filled with fear, and that night I held you as you told me your fears about the war. I was scared too, I had to let you go knowing there was a chance that I would never see you again, but I knew God would watch over you, and I told you he would protect you no matter what the circumstance was.

Once you left, I held onto faith, hoping and praying that a telegram would not appear at my door with those soldiers who carry death in their hands.I held onto faith so tightly not long after I heard from you. I read in your letters the terror that was before your eyes, each night the cots in your room became empty, and you dreaded the day your death would come. You asked me if there was hope that you would survive. I didn't know what to tell you because my own mind was filled with terrifying thoughts. You wrote to me telling me of the gunshots you would hear in the field, and I began to kneel and beg my God selfishly to bring you back home to me.

You had your life all planned out; no one asked for your opinion or what you wanted. You had plans of your own. You had your eye on that sweet girl next door, but you were scared - scared because you didn't know if you would ever be able to come back and tell that girl about how hard you fell for her when you saw her for the first time looking all grown up.

I'm proud to call you my Brave Soldier. You took courage with you and put fear in your back pocket. Although you had great plans for your life, you gave it up so another person could have the freedom and safety to have the life you always dreamed of. You fought well, my boy, and though I wish I could have held you for just a bit longer, God knew what he was doing when he sent you to this path. God became your lifeline; He became the one you so desperately called upon because Mom and Dad were not there to shoo away the scary monsters that surrounded you at night. The soldiers around you became your family. They were your brothers and your sisters.

They held you and comforted you when you realized your bunkmates were not able to come back with you, and their time was up. God took them home. If I could tell you how I felt when the soldiers of death knocked on my doors, I would. I never cried so hard that night in my life; I felt alone and broken because you, son, died so I could live free.

You and many more are remembered for the life you sacrificed, the dreams you gave up and the comfort you once had, but gave up so others could have those dreams and comfort.