Magical Moment 428, "Happy Birthday"

Today is the birthday of my friend, Kevin Gaspers. I've mentioned him several times before:

He was my friend and fellow soldier. We went through college and ROTC together, then were both stationed at Fort Bragg. I have many fond memories of school, dancing, we even had the same birthday. :) So it's easy for me to remember him. Not that I could ever forget. He was killed in Iraq on April 23, 2007.

My Grandma Valencia wrote this poem in his honor. It brings a tear to my eye each time I read it. He would be 30 today. Happy birthday, Kevin. We will never forget.

"1LT Kevin Gaspers"

By Mary M. Valencia 4/25/2007

Have you named your star in heaven?

There’s one there close to us for Kevin.

Look! Up above, the first star of the night,

this clear night reveals the multitude, so bright.

‘Twas once a twinkle in an eye,

groomed, then zoomed to heights, the sky.

Never a stranger to the world below,

we knew this young man, our friend, to grow.

Bless you, Kevin, made of brave Christian soldier’s glory,

who with many others write this story.

There’s glory there way beyond measure,

Red, White and Blue is our Nation’s treasure.

Rest serenely in thy peace,

Eternity’s love ne’er to cease.

Comments

laughwithusblog said…

Happy Birthday to you! What a beautiful tribute to your friend and fellow soldier.

April 8, 2011 at 6:03 PM

Rick said…

What a great tribute to someone who undoubtedly was a great person - not in the way the world sees 'great' but through his selfless sacrifice to make this place just a little bit better !

April 8, 2011 at 10:38 PM

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said…

Happy birthday to you, Elizabeth; and a big thank you for sharing your memories of Kevin. It's important that none of us forget, even those of us who never knew him personally. He represents so many others.

April 8, 2011 at 11:36 PM

Hilary said…

This is so sad. It's quite lovely though, that each birthday (at least) will be a day to remember your friend. Lovely tribute, and a very happy, though belated birthday to you.

April 10, 2011 at 9:29 AM

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-...

Search This Blog