Thursday, October 14, 2004

Share the Memory and Courage of CPL Jefferey Lawerence

The bracelet I order has CPL Jefferey Lawerence. I was friends with him in high school and attended his funeral this summer. I felt that getting his name on a bracelt would be my way of keeping his memory and sharing his courage with others.

My Friend Curt Mancini

My friend Curt Mancini was killed in January. I'd really rather not have the bracelet, but him instead. He was a police officer and once my partner on a task force.

To Remind Me Everyday of How Fortunate Many of Us are

I am a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy, and I wanted to choose an 18 year old who lost his life fighting for our country. I wanted the bracelet to remind me everyday of how fortunate many of us are.

Very Respectfully,
C4C Calvin
A-3 Element
CS-09 Vikings "Valhalla"
United States Air Force Academy

For PFC Charles Sims

On OCT 3, 2003 one of my soldiers, PFC Charles Sims, drowned. He was one of the most mature 18 year olds that I had ever met. He had a bright future ahead of him. At that time, I only knew his family through letters. I wrote to each of my junior soldiers (E4 and below) families to ensure that the families were kept informed.

This bracelet will stay on my wrist until the day I die to remind me of how precious a human life is and that preserving a human life is the most important thing a leader can do.

WESLEY
1LT, MP
Executive Officer

For My Friend Stationed in Alaska

I ordered the bracelet in honor of my friend. We were stationed together in Alaska and this is a way I can honor him every day.

Thank you,

Matt Z.

Wednesday, October 13, 2004

For the 226th En. Co. 62nd EN BN

I was with the 226th En. Co. 62nd EN BN. On 23 March 2003, my Unit moved in to Iraq. This was also the birth date of my late mother. When I got home, I wanted a way to remember that day and to remember the one's that did not get to come home with me!

Thank you,
SSG. Howard

For Curt in Fort Lauderdale

I worked with Curt back in Fort Lauderdale. He was just a fantastic guy. Some days I can't believe he is gone, but I know he did something he truly believed in.

Thank you,

Jessica

For Teacher Barbara Edwards on Flight 77

I ordered the bracelet because Barbara Edwards (who was a victim on Flight 77 was a teacher at one of our local high schools.

For 3 Soldiers Brought to 28th Combat Support Hospital

The story of why I ordered them is bittersweet as I am sure many are. Though I did not personally know these 3 brave soldiers who were killed in action, my daughter did come to know them - briefly. She was an army nurse with the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Tikrit, Iraq and treated them all. She herself has many amazing and touching stories of her own heroism as she and her particular unit followed the 3rd I.D. in the major combat operations into Baghdad and later on she was transferred into Tikrit. She was honored to be one of the people who got to treat and serve many of our wounded, dying, or soldiers killed in action there.

She hasn't told me everything of course, but a few things do stand out that she shared. 2 of the bracelets were ordered in memory of 2 young soldiers who were killed by a roadside bomb. The night this happened she and her team of other doctors and healthcare professionals worked tirelessly through the evening/night to try to save them. They had to give many units of blood, until they finally ran out - but my daughter gave her own blood to one of them (I am wearing his bracelet on my wrist right now). Though they fought professionally and valiantly to save them - they could not. During a break that night, she e-mailed me and asked me and all of our prayer circle back home to pray for them and their families. She is wearing the 2nd soldiers bracelet from that night.

The 3rd bracelet is being worn by my husband. This was for another Sgt. that my daughter also treated and he was transported to another facility and later died. She told of his heroism of how he took the brunt of an explosion to save those around him. His heroism will never be forgotten by her, his buddies or us.

My daughter spent one year in Iraq taking care of and watching others like them die for what they believed in. She believed in it too, despite these terrible losses. She is home now, but none of us ever want to forget those who fought and are still fighting for freedom for us...even those who are criticizing what they are there for. I only wish somehow that their families could know how much they were professionally and lovingly taken care of in their last moments.

My daughter believes that she was allowed to go there for a purpose not only to provide top notch nursing care, but she felt it was her privilege to be the one who could be with many of these soldiers their last moments on earth. She talked with them, encouraged them and did all she could for them as she deeply cared for them - knowing that their families and loved ones would have loved to have been able to be there for them.

We salute here and the soldiers these 3 represent by wearing these bracelets every day!

Thanks,
Teresa

Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Gunnery Sgt. Ronald E. Baum

I found your site by searching Gunnery Sgt. Baum's name on the Internet. I am running in the Marine Corps Marathon in honor of GS Baum and when I came across your site, I wanted to purchase a bracelet in his name. I did not know him, but I have an extreme respect for anyone that has served or is serving for our country.

Sincerely,
Geoff

Monday, October 11, 2004

For My Son While He is in Iraq

I found your site my accident but was glad to have stumbled on it. I was looking for a bracelet my son was allowed to wear with his uniform while he is lraq. We wanted to put his sons name on it. Your site was just what we wanted.

Thank you again,
Helena

To Remember all the Terrorist Victims

My mom and I wanted to order a bracelet because we felt it was important to remember all the terrorist victims. It breaks my heart every time I hear of an innocent person getting killed by such a violent act. I have not personally known any of these victims, but tears have been shed over their deaths. We pray for those hostages still held captive and for the families who have lost loved ones.

Sue

Sunday, October 10, 2004

For my Sister Who Got Out of the World Trade Center

I ordered a bracelet because my sister was in the World Trade Center and thankfully got out. I think we have taken our eyes off of the real enemy and I hope I can tell people what I think about this when they ask about the bracelet. We should be after Osama Bin Laden not in Iraq.

I also ordered the bracelet for Sirius because my heart broke for the Port Authority Police officer who told the dog to stay. I have lost my faithful companions and I can't imagine how this officer felt. Thanks for this wonderful way to remember. (I also wore a POW bracelet for years. It is still in my jewelry box.)

Saturday, October 09, 2004

To Show the World our Solders are Important

Out of curiosity, I went to archived news of the area where the soldier I chose lived. It was heartbreaking to put a family, face and story to this bracelet, but at the same time an absolute honor! This soldier was only 18 and left behind a son he never saw. Every soldier is special and our hearts and prayers go out to them and their families. Thank you for an opportunity, through this bracelet, to show the world our soldiers are important and there is a name to each one rooted in our nation.

Thank you again. I wear this bracelet with pride, a deep sense of loss and a memory of the price our soldiers paid with their lives. How thankful I am for what they did and do for our freedom and the freedom of nations in trouble.

Warm thanks,
Christine

Friday, October 08, 2004

For Felix A. Vale

After September 11 I donated as much money as I could to orphans, spouses, and fire fighters. I heard about Memorial Bracelets and found your site a year later, but couldn't figure out how to choose from so many names. It is simply overwhelming.

I told my mom about the bracelets and she told me that she and my father wore MIA-POW bracelets during and after the Vietnam War (my father is a 95% disabled Vietnam Veteran). I was very touched.

This year I decided to finally order my bracelet. The site offered a random selection of names. Felix A. Vale was the random selection. Before I placed my order, I looked up his memorials online. I found that he was only 29 years old, and lived with and supported his mother. His little brother also died that day at the WTC (he had gotten him a job). I was saddened that only one friend wrote an obituary note.

I was able to find that personal touch with Felix. I returned to your site and ordered the bracelet.

For our Nephew Raymond Losano

Raymond Losano was our nephew. He was like a son to my husband and myself. I stood across from him as his first child was born and watched a boy become a man/father. We took him to the recruiter the last time he went to sign his final papers. Losing him was like losing our own son who is in the US Navy and was in Iraq aboard the USS Constellation when his cousin was killed. His wife and children (his wife was expecting their second child when he died) live here in Tucson so we see them very often, just as Raymond would have wanted us to. His parents live in TX so we are the kids grandparents here in Tucson. Raymond lived here when he joined the AF. Again, I love my bracelet and after I show it to other family members, I'm sure we will be ordering more. On Oct. 18 we will be in San Diego watching our son sail away again to parts unknown to do his duty once again as a Sailor in the US Navy. We just hope and pray he and all the others come home safely.

Sincerely,
Thelma
A Very PROUD Navy Mom and still grieving Air Force Aunt

To Help me Cope with My Feelings

I used to wear one in the early 70s but lost it when I was in the hospital with pneumonia. I wish that I could remember his name but can't. I lost my wife in May of this year and as a reason to carry on I decided to get back to my old self, which is to say that I served in the corps for 8 years. I have always been Patriotic and this helps me cope with my feelings.

Alan
Sgt. Retired USMC

Thursday, October 07, 2004

To Open Discussions about the War

As I teenager I got a POW bracelet for the vietnam war. I'd worn it faithfully ever since. One evening I was doing some work on line and I wondered if those bracelets were being made now. I'd had support magnets for my car, and, unfortunately, thieves don't seem to care about the significance of what they steal, and they took my magnets, as well as my daughter's. When I found your site, I immediately ordered a bracelet for myself , one for my daughter, and one for a dear friend who's son is a black hawk pilot in Iraq. I have used my bracelets as a way of opening discussions about the war and about the lives of our soldiers who are risking it all for us. A bracelet is the least I can do to show my support for them.

Thank you,
Diana

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

For a Soldier's Soldier Shawn Clemens

I ordered my bracelet after I saw a Memorial Bracelet at the re-naming of the Cuba, NY Amvets Post #1 on September 18, 2004. The Amvets Post #1 was re-named the S/SGT Shawn M. Clemens Memorial Amvets Post #1.

My Memorial Bracelet has this inscription:

SSG Shawn M. Clemens NY Army
Enduring Freedom 29 Jan 04 KIA

A Memorial Bracelet was given to Shawn’s father Bill Clemens, by a friend of Shawn’s. I saw the bracelet on Bill’s wrist and asked him to show it to me. Bill Clemens is my son Kyle’s father-in-law. That would make Bill’s daughter Kristen my daughter-in-law. I first met Shawn when Kyle and Kristen were dating. I have several family members who have served in the armed forces of this great nation. My father was a Col. in the U.S. Air Force. My older brother was a Col. in the U.S. Army. My sister was a Brig. Gen. in the U.S. Army (also department chair for the Phys Ed. Department at West Point Military Academy); her husband was also a Col. in the U.S. Army. I also had two other sisters and a younger brother serve in the U.S. Army. I think partially because of my family’s involvement in the military, I naturally liked and admired Shawn Clemens.

Through his family, I was able to follow his career. In my opinion Shawn was a soldier’s soldier. I won’t list his entire (I think) eight year career, but Shawn was a sniper and a member of the 10th Mountain out of Fort Drum, NY. He had been deployed to Afghanistan, and was serving there at the time of his death. Although Shawn was my son’s brother-in-law, it still hurts me to think of Shawn in terms as final as death. Shawn had talked with my son about going on motorcycle rides with us when he returned to the states. We (my two sons’ and I) also recently have taken up the sport of paintball, and I am certain Shawn would have played that with us when he was able to. I would have loved to have him on our team! Shawn also left behind a three year old son who is so much his image. When I think that this little boy will grow up without his father makes me think of how lucky I was to have had my father for 49 years of my life…and what a terrific sacrifice Shawn made for his country.

Having lived with this since last January, the news reports of the KIA in the war in Iraq has a different meaning. These KIA are heroes, they are not nameless young men and women. They are sons and daughters of American families who now have to come to grips with their worst fear. I always think what a family must now experience when they have an unknown visitor, a representative of the U.S. military come to their home to notify them of their son or daughters death.

I lost my father-in-law, my mother-in-law and father in a nine month span of time. It was the single most difficult period of my life. Shawn was killed two years and two days after my dad passed away. I think about these four most wonderful people on a daily basis. I have my bracelet on my right wrist in memory of Shawn and of a life that could have been. I will always think of him, and of the other Military personnel who serve this nation so gallantly.

Robert

My Roommate's Cousin who Died in the WTC

I ordered this particular bracelet because I had always wanted a POW MIA bracelet after I saw a friend of my father's wearing one about 5 years ago, but could never find where to purchase one. Then, my Dad sent me the www.powbracelet.com web site and I noticed that you were also manufacturing bracelets for 9/11. My roommate's cousin died in the WTC so I decided to honor my roommate and her family by buying a bracelet with the name of her cousin.

Monday, October 04, 2004

A lot of our National Guard units here in Louisiana have been deployed and my husband and sons are among them. I ordered bracelets with my sons names and will be ordering one with my husband's name as soon as his promotion goes thru. I also ordered a bracelet for my oldest son who lost a friend in Iraq in 2003 (I saw the friend's name on your list.)

Dena

Saturday, October 02, 2004

For my Battle Buddy Cpt. Mike Tarlavsky

The name on my bracelet is Cpt Mike Tarlavsky. He was killed in Iraq. He was my battle buddy in basic training.

Andy
"evil prevails when good men do nothing"

For American Airline Pilot John Ogonowski

I ordered this bracelet because my neighbor was the American Airline pilot that hit the world trade center. John Ogonowski was a great man and did a lot of great things from my town of Dracut, Massachusetts. He was well liked by all and left his three daughters and wife behind.

Cadet 3rd Class Jeff
Cadet Squadron 12 "Dirty Dozen"
United States Air Force Academy