I promised you. Son, that I would not forget these fallen heroes

[Tsiyu]

After you came home from Iraq, my heart was so full the first time I saw you. I can't explain what it feels like for a mother: to know that her big, strong, beautiful son has made it home safely from hell.

We mothers of soldiers - both daughters and sons - stand in awe of our children. How could weak, everyday people like us raise such good people, such heroes?

But it is your love for your fellow soldiers that struck me most when I saw you that day. I can't write too deeply about this or I will dissolve into tears again, but you said something that has stayed with me ever since.

You thanked me for publicly remembering and acknowledging your friends, and I was glad you weren't embarrassed by my tribute. "No," you said, " it just sucks because most people are going to forget. Most people won't remember those guys..."

So today, on Memorial Day, I will remember them and ask my fellow DUers to take a moment to remember these fine young men as well.

They died being soldiers with hearts of gold - coming to the aid of a pregnant woman - and Son, I want you to know that people will remember them.

My heart grieves with their families and with you as we take this day to remember our fallen heroes:

Staff Sergeant Nino D. Livaudais :patriot:

http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/livaudaisninod.html

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/256559.html

Specialist Ryan P. Long :patriot:

http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/longryanp.html

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/256562.html

Captain Russell B Rippetoe :patriot:

http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/rippetoerussellb.html

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/256563.html



And here's the song I sang that day, because these young men made a difference as they passed through,

and because it still rings true:



Passin' Through

Written by Johnny Cash and Randy Scruggs

I stood upon the mountain, I've seen the other side
Wrestled with the devil, I've wrestled with my pride.
Been down in the valley, stood out in the rain
Seen my love forsaken, felt the pleasure and the pain.

One thing that's for certain - One chord that rings true:
It's a mighty world we live in
The truth is
We're only passin' through

I've cried in tears of sadness, cried in tears of joy
Found the life worth living, found the peace within the noise
Turned my back on hatred, lying, prejudice and greed
Found the future in the present, hope within a seed

One thing that's for certain - One chord that rings true:
It's a wicked world we live in
But the truth is
We're only passin' through

I've seen my bucket empty, seen my well run dry
But there's water down the road and I'm only going by
If I'm sittin on dead ready when my chances come and knock
I'll make it where I'm going; I'll be tall just like a rock

One thing that's for certain - One chord that rings true:
It's a mighty world we live in
But the truth is
We're only passin' through

Sua Sponte :patriot:

RLTW

[Tsiyu]

1. Kick for Memorial Day

:kick:

Please take a moment to read about these young men.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. That is a lovely tribute

Thank you, buddyhollysghost, for taking the time to remember them.

[Wilms]

3. Peace n/t

[annabanana]

4. thank you

and thank your Son
and thank his friends

[Wilms]

5. It means a lot to me, too.

Thanks for your note.

[GirlinContempt]

6. Thank you for sharing this

No one who is loved is ever really forgotten. :hug:

[Debbi801]

Thank you for sharing this...

What a touching tribute.

:hug:
for you and your son.

Debbi

[kick-ass-bob]

7. Since I can no longer nominate this thread

I will just have to kick it instead. :kick:



:patriot:

:patriot:

:patriot:

[cassandra uprising]

8. Thank you for this post

Your strength is incredible. Please tell your son, thank you.

:hug:

[myrna minx]

9. What a wonderful tribute.

Thank you for sharing. :patriot:

[xmas74]

10. Thank you.

We can be both opposed to war and support our troops at the same time. That is how most of us here feel. No one should have to make this kind of sacrifice.
I will pass their names on to others so that they are never completely forgotten.

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Thanks, thanks to your son, and to these wonderful young men gone too soon

It's much too weak, but all condolences.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Beautiful post

So sad. :cry: Hopefully no one will forget. I don't see how one could.

[IdaBriggs]

13. Thank you. And Kick. nt

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. How my heart breaks to look at those faces...They are in my thoughts...

their families and your son are in my thoughts. May he be returned to you safely. These are the faces we have to keep in mind. :(

[tnlefty]

15. Peace.

:dem:

[JimmyJazz]

16. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute.

:patriot:

[Mad_Dem_X]

17. Beautiful tribute

The website is heartbreaking; may we never forget those brave young people. :cry: :patriot:

[evlbstrd]

18. A salute to our fallen.

Bring them all home.

[seito]

19. Their service will not be forgotten

:patriot:

[MrScorpio]

20. Thank you for your tribute

It was a beautiful thing to do

[DeepModem Mom]

21. I'm honored to be able to acknowledge and remember these heroes...

Thank you for giving me the opportunity. You have a wonderful son, who undoubtedly learned much from you.

[GardeningGal]

22. Missed this on Memorial Day

Very nice tribute. Good luck to your son and all our soldiers.

[flvegan]

23. Beautiful tribute. Another thanks to those who serve/served.

[Tsiyu]

24. Well, Thanks Everybody

Now I'm crying again.

My son is safely in college now, and I hope he never goes back but I can't tell him what to do, can I?

At home when this happened, I had been wondering if a mother really knows when something happens to her son or daughter in war. When I heard the news about this incident( this was relatively early in the war - they still reported these things up-to-the-minute), I started crying and just felt this incredible sense of terror without knowing why. And then I find out he was close by. He'd played poker with one of the guys just the night before. They are so close, those guys, like the best of brothers.

Thank you all so so much for giving me something to send him. he was so worried that people would forget these brave, wonderful kids. You all mean so much to me, I can't even express it. :grouphug:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. I had a feeling once the server was up this would get the attention

--- it deserved.

Thank you again for posting. :hug:

[Tsiyu]

32. Thank you, too

It hurts to remember but it's so important at the same time.

We have to get our people home ASAP.

[Stinky The Clown]

25. To your son, to his service mates, too all who are and have served

I salute you all.

Stinky the Clown (former USN) .... who has spent this Memorial Day in a serious funk of sadness and longing for what our country once was .... and by God, will be again.

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

28. Well Stinky

Thank you for adding to this remembrance. When I posted on your other thread, I thought this one had sunk. Since the server problems made it so that this post doesn't show up on the "My POsts" page, I had no idea that so many had responded.

Thank you again, all. They were fine young men and loved by so many. A true loss, every one of our kids who is gone.

[Kurovski]

26. As long as we can gather openly each Memorial Day

there is no chance that those who gave their lives to aid another human being will be forgotten. And my condolences and regrets to you on the loss of your friends.

We are here at DU to remind one another, and to retell the stories.

Many thanks to you for your service, and to your mom who has sacrificed sleepless nights and tears of worry.

she fights the good fight here at DU to assist our troops.

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

29. Speechless

:hug:

[katinmn]

27. Thank you for your sacrifice, son of buddyhollysghost

My heart aches for the families of the 1,664 who have lost their lives, and for the tens of thousands who have been wounded.

I am grateful for all that you have done.

[Tsiyu]

30. The heartache is so true

Thank you for your gratitude.
Thank you for helping remember.

[Kurovski]

33. Kick nt