For My Friend's Brother

The person on my bracelet I met only twice but I am real good friends with his brother. When I heard of his brothers death in Operation Iraqi Freedom I attended his wake and funeral to honor the life of a great soldier and better man and to support my friend his brother in his families most trying of times. Following the funeral I had no idea of how his death and funeral would affect me and I wear the bracelet to honor him and to honor all my friends who I attended military college with and whom are beginning their lives as commissioned offices in this nations Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.


Thanks Again

Tom

For My Two Friends lost In Iraq

I found your website when I was searching for a website that would let me make a bracelet with the names of my friends who were killed in Iraq.

I am an Army officer who served two tours in Iraq. Each of the soldiers on my bracelet was someone I knew personally who died during my tours there. Their stories are very personal to me and much too in depth to recount here. I would like to thank you for allowing me to list their names and have an outward reminder of their sacrifice and my service.

Thank you.

Spence

For 9/11 Firemen

My husband is a volunteer fireman, and I think, like most firefighters, September 11 and the loss of all of the firefighters really resounds with him. I ordered the bracelet for him for christmas. He had been wanting one for some time. It's his way of carrying on the life of someone lost that dreadful day as well as his way of paying his respect and showing his admiration for the courage, selflessness and bravery displayed that day, not only by the firefighters, ems, or police but by everyone.

Thank you for what you are doing.

God bless

For PFC Maupin

When I was in college in the late 80s, one of my acquaintances was an Air Force ROTC candidate who wore an MIA bracelet for an airman in Vietnam. I thought it was an extremely noble cause, and for years, I researched specific Vietnam POW/MIA soldiers, sailors and airmen. None of their stories resonated. I wanted to have some kind of personal affinity for the serviceman on my wrist. I would drop the search for several months and then renew it with the same results. I simply wasn’t connecting with anyone. But I recently read the story of Keith Maupin, and his bravery, along with his parents’ anguish, hit home.

Until recently, PFC Maupin was the only POW of this conflict. But now there’s another. And somehow our Commander in Chief has allowed the Prime Minister of a puppet government to dictate that we end our search for him. It’s incomprehensible. My thoughts are now with both of the POWs of OIF.

Thank you for the bracelet

Cliff

For My Brothers

I ordered 2 bracelets, one a custom bracelet in memory of the WolfHounds of 1st Platoon, A Company 2-27 Infantry with whom I served in Afghanistan. The other is a memorial bracelet in honor of the one soldier we lost from our Company in 2004 while in Afghanistan. All of these men, living and deceased will always hold a place in my heart, and will always be my brothers. I feel it necessary to carry their memory with me at all times. .


John "Iron Gut"

For Michael and Ricky

I received the bracelet and it really moved me. It is really nice and reminds me to pray for my friend Michael and those he left behind.

I knew Michael his whole life. He and his family were friends of our family. I married a girl a few doors down from Michael's home.

Michael was murdered during the attacks on the WTC. Michael's best friend and friend of mine Ricky Caprone were also murdered that day.

I am a firefighter in Bushkill, Pa.. I moved up here 15 years ago from N.Y.. Michael helped Theresa and I move into our new home. As you can see Michael was a constant thread in my life. I wear the bracelet to remind me that life can be stolen at any moment and to remember those that had their lives taken way to soon. It reminds me to pray and to count the blessings I have.

Thank you for the chance to have a visual reminder of what I need to be doing. Praying!

Tommy

To Support Byron and His Family

I received my POW bracelet today.  I was very pleased with the quality. I found your site on one of the POW-MIA sites, I think it was POW Biographies. I bought a bracelet in the early 70's, wrote to his family, eventually looked up a lot of history about him, talked to one of the guys he was in Viet Nam with, he was part of my life for a very long time, and he always will be. 

I have several other bracelets, another from Viet Nam, one from Korea, one from the first Gulf War. I wanted this one because my nephew is in Iraq now and the name I ordered is from Michigan, as we are. I can't imagine how awful it must be to not know where your loved one is and so this is just my way of supporting Byron and his family. 

Thank you for continuing to bring attention to this cause. Have an awesome day.

Lynda S.

For PFC. Kubic

I served with several very honorable young men over in seas. Some of my buddies who had served overseas in Iraq in 2003 had gotten bracelets from you to honor their fallen brothers. The young man whose name that I put on my bracelet was a very brave and honorable young man who gave his life fighting and defending this great country of ours. I had the great pleasure of serving with PFC. Kubik over seas in Iraq and I thought there was no better way to honor him than getting a bracelet from you with his name on it. Thank you very much for giving the chance and the honor to have this one last memory of my fallen comrade.

Thank You

For My Father

My father was a Chicago Police Officer and the greatest man I ever knew.
He is the reason why I became a Police Officer, this bracelet will be with me
forever to serve as a reminder as to how much he meant to me and how much I
will miss him. Life is too short, honor your family.....

Michael

For Berry Berenson Perkins

Years ago I had a POW bracelet very similar I never took off until my POW came home. He finally did thank God!

I am sure I am only one of thousands that 9/11 had a major impact on. No, I did not have a loved one killed or injured, but it effected me no less and still does to this day.

When I was a very young girl, several female photographers had a major influence on me to do as they did and to and become the artists they were. One of them was Berry Berenson Perkins who was on the first plane that hit the WTC that nightmarish day. It was so shocking to me her life should end in such violence. She will always be in my thoughts and her family in my prayers.
Thank you so for making these bracelets available. It is a day that should NEVER be forgotten.


Sincerely,

Cindy

A Constant Reminder

I was watching the news about Iraq and I started thinking about Vietnam. I wore a POW bracelet all through high school. I began wondering if something similar would be available today to show our support. The simplicity of the bracelets make them beautiful, but the underlying sadness that they represent is a constant reminder of the sacrifice that is being made daily by our troops. My soldier never came home from Vietnam. I checked the paper daily for his name and eventually returned my bracelet to his family. It is a memory that has stayed with me all of these years. And now at 50, I am again wearing a POW bracelet. I never thought that I would see this again in my lifetime. I look down at that bracelet with tremendous sadness because I know that this brave solider made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Many brave men and women have given their lives for the freedoms that we cherish today. We should never forget their sacrifice. This is what the bracelet represents, and this is why I will always wear it.

Thank you.

For Our Servicemen

Forty years ago, I wore a memorial bracelet for Captain Scarborough, a helicopter pilot who went missing in the mid-1960s. I wore the bracelet until it practically fell off. To this day, I still don't know if he was taken prisoner when his helicopter was shot down in Vietnam, or if his remains were recovered and returned to his family.

Now, almost forty years have past and I still cannot forget the bravery of our young men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice, so we may be free.

I selected this serviceman because he went missing on my birthday. I remember celebrating the day in 1967, and now I have another MIA/POW who I can never forget because of this connection. My heart is still heavy for those who were lost so long ago. Once again, I will wear a bracelet with great pride and reverence.

Linda

Operation Enduring Freedom

I served in the military for over ten years and my superiors made it almost mandatory for all incoming recruits to go down to the military clothing store to purchase one of the POW bracelets for the Vietnam war. Those were the only ones that were being made back then as a reminder of the sacrifice that fellow soldiers made. Now that they are available for all conflicts and wars, I ordered one for a fellow friend who was killed in action in operation enduring freedom. Now I will carry his memory with me forever.

James

For Vietnam POWs and MIAs

I ordered a Vietnam POW MIA bracelet because I wanted to remember the sacrifice that many men and women made in Vietnam and other conflicts. This bracelet will remind me that my freedom didn't come without a price. I'm sure I will wear my bracelet until the man's name on my bracelet is found or I will wear it for the rest of my life.

For Mark Bingham

Around the 5th anniversary of the attacks I saw a TV show about the passengers of United 93. I was amazed by their composure and courage. I ordered the bracelet because I want to personally honor this group of people who showed all of us in the United States what it means to be a hero against terrorism. I choose Mark Bingham because he was gay and I want people know that.

Thanks

Brandon

For Brad Beste

On Aug 4, 2006 my daughter's high school classmate and a close family friend was kill in Iraq. Sgt. Brad Beste was serving his second tour in Iraq and received a Purple Heart during his first tour. Just 8 month's prior, this young 22yr. old soldier had Christmas dinner with my family. He was in the process deciding whether or not to return to Iraq for a second tour. In the end, Brad's commitment to his country and the loyalty he felt to his fellow soldiers won him over and he returned to Iraq.

I will proudly wear this bracelet to honor Sgt. Brad Beste. Brad's smile, sense of humor, and true friendship will be missed, but nothing will overshadow the ultimate sacrifice that he and many other soldiers have made so that all Americans can continue to enjoy the freedom that symbolizes the United States of America. Thank you, and God Bless you, Sgt. Bradley H. Beste.

Richard

Remembering 9/11

The bracelet reminds me of the POW bracelet I wore when I was a teenager and I regret ever taking off.

I found your site when researching information about the FDNY. I teach a week long unit about 9/11/01 with my history classes and was looking for information about the firefighters lost on that tragic day.

9/11/01 changed our country and is a historical event that occurred within the lifetime of my students. It allows me to begin my teaching year with a historical reference that my students can discuss with their families and helps me spark an interest in history. The events of 9/11/01 also illuminates the importance for citizens to understand the policies of our government and the relationships we have with other countries.

I am thankful to have a constant reminder of the heroics of our countries' firefighters and hope that my wearing this bracelet prompts many discussions about the events of 9/11/01.

Thank you.

Never Forget

I wear a bracelet for SSG James A. Champion, USA Ranger, April 24,1971 from the Vietnam war. My father served in Vietnam and that is how I became interested in the subject. My 11 year old daughter saw the bracelets and wanted one so that she will never forget what happened on that day (9-11). I always tell her that history will repeat itself if we do not educate others. She and I think that every person on that flight were heroes and should be remembered. We will wear the bracelets with honor and will never take them off.

For Fire Chief Ganci

My husband is a fire chief and has been in the fire service for over 35 years. We both have very strong emotions when it comes to the attacks on 9-11. We recently attended the International Fire Chiefs Association annual conference, and they had a very impressive memorial service honoring those lost on 9/11/01. The memorial service had representatives from each of the locations attacked, the Pentagon, Flight 93/Shanksville, and the World Trade Center. FDNY was represented by members of Chief Ganci’s family, his wife, two sons, and their spouses. Chief Ganci’s son, Chris, spoke and it was an honor to listen to the obvious pride and love he has for his father, and the New York Fire Department. He changed career paths after 9-11, joining his brother in the fire service. Our bracelets bear Chief Ganci’s name, so although I ordered them too late to have them for the conference, it has given an additional importance to the bracelets having heard his son in person. We also have children involved in public safety, two firefighters, one police officer, and one 911 dispatcher, so again felt a special attachment to a family involved in public service and safety.


Randi

For My Childhood Friend

I ordered my bracelet in memory of a long time childhood friend. We just recently reconnected a month and a half before his death. We were friends that had lost touch for about 8-9 years. He found me on myspace and promised me that everything would be OK and that he was fine in Afghanistan. He said he would be home late August/early September. He came home in July in a casket. He was a Green Beret Sniper for the US Army and I am so very proud of him and I do miss talking to him dearly. When we were younger I never would have dreamed that is how he would have gone. I thank my lucky stars that he found me when he did, I look at it as a sign. There was a reason he found me when he did and now I know why.

Thank You

Jerri

High School Graduates Serving Our Country

As a high school librarian I've made it a mission to find as many of our school's graduates that are serving in the military no matter what branch of service. I started right after 9/11. I currently have 75 names. Since 9/11 several have been discharged but many have remained in service because they want to protect our country. Yesterday one of our newest Marines came to see me to make sure I knew he'd completed basics.

I bought the bracelet to remind people that the terrorists haven't gone away. We need to remember and be ever vigilant or our freedoms and our country will suffer yet another attack. These extremists want us gone from the face of the earth. The people who died at all three sites on that day in September deserve their individual memorials. Each of them made a sacrifice and their deaths should be a wake up call for all of us. I will wear Michael Horrocks bracelet with pride and remembrance. May his death not be in vain. He is an American Hero. God Bless

Carla

For POWs

I ordered a bracelet because one of my teachers in high school had one that he wore for the Vietnam War. His was also for a P.O.W. and I remember asking him about it. One day when I saw he was no longer wearing it. He explained to me that the young man's body had be found and returned to his family in the states. That really touched me deeply how he had worn that bracelet for over 20 years till that boy was returned back to his family. Now with the war in the middle east going on. I figured it waws time for my generation to take a stand and make sure these new soliders are not forgoten. That is why I plan on wearing my bracelet for SGT Keith M. Maupin until I hear about his return home.

Paul

For Tiki Dan

Tiki Dan was a really good friend of mine and I miss him. He died while attempting to disarm an improvised explosive device when deployed to Iraq. I am grateful that I will now be able to carry him with me while I continue with the same duty that ended Tiki Dan's life. I wish that I wasn't buying a bracelet with my friend's name on it- signifying his passing. Tiki Dan was and is a true American Hero.

Thank you

Layne
Explosive Ordnance Disposal

For Father Mychal Judge

My mother and I have been involved in our local fire company's ladies auxiliary, and we are strong Catholics. I was very touched by the saintly life that Fr. Mychal Judge led, as well as his wonderful priesthood all the way up to the very end.

Joanne

For Suzanne Calley

I am a diver and frequently dive in Monterey. Suzanne Calley was also a diver. She was killed on flight 77 that hit the pentagon. A bench has been dedicated at a very popular dive site in her honor. Her bubbly personality and enthusiasm was contagious. Suzanne was a terrific person and with the upcoming anniversary of our losing her, I feel compelled to comment. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends, who lost someone on that very tragic day. I am praying extra special due to the anniversary. I am a volunteer Chaplain with the Campbell Police Department here in the Bay Area of California. Being in law enforcement only reminds me of the great loss of life and how a handful of people changed America forever. May we never forget that fateful day and God Bless America.

Tracy