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 It allows me to begin my teaching year with a historical reference that my students can discuss with their families and helps me spark an interest in history.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

The Forgotten Part Of The War In Iraq

Our youngest son Brian Cramer is back in Iraq serving his next 7th month tour that has just begun. Brian called us for the first time on Monday at 3:00 am in the morning. He is in city of Al Qiam, which is located on the Syria border. The area is called the Wild, Wild West and is also known as "The forgotten part of the war in Iraq".

This past Friday September 3rd, 2004 Brian and 17 other men from the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Weapons Co. were on their very 1st mission or patrol. There were 5 Humvees and 18 Marines that pulled over to check a bridge to see if it was safe enough to take heavy equipment over. It only took about 10 minutes for 2 engineers, along with the other 16 men, to check the bridge out and then they returned to their vehicles. Many of them were already in their Humvees when someone detonated an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) that had been planted in the road close to the Humvees. Our son was only 50 feet away and watched his best friend die. His name was Nicholas Wilt from Tampa, Florida. He was 23 and married for only a little over a year. He and his wife attended the same nursery school. You will not hear anything about this on the news, since there are no news reporters where they are and as I said before, they are fighting in "The forgotten part of Iraq". The names of the fallen marines are:

Lance Corporal Nicholas Perez age 19 from Austin, Texas (He was with the 3rd Battalion/7th Marines) (His 7 month tour was almost over and he was going home soon).

Captain Alan Rowe (Brian's captain) age 35 from Hagerman, Idaho (Married with 3 children)

1st Lieutenant Ronald Winchester (Brian's Lieutenant) age 25 from Rockville, N

Lance Corporal Nicholas Wilt (Brian's best friend) age 23 from Tampa, Florida (His wife's name is Mercedes)

I do not want these Marines to be forgotten. They have paid the ultimate price for freedom and please keep their family and friends in your prayers.

There were two other friends of Brain's that were injured and I regret to say I only know one of them by his first name and the other by his last name. Matt was one of the young men that was injured the worst. When we had our last visit with Brian a few weeks ago, we had dinner with Matt, his wife & his father the night before coming home. Matt's wife, Heather had just found out she was pregnant. His leg was badly injured and he should recover. His injury will allow him to come home. The other young man I only know by his last name. His last name is Patterson, he received minor wounds to his face and will be fine.

Since they lost both their officers, a Capt. and 1st Lieutenant, Brian is now in charge of his platoon, since he now the highest ranking in his unit. He will need are prayers and I ask God to help him through this. It doesn't quite seem fair that at 20 years of age you have so much responsibility, but I am sure he is very capable. When he was in 29 Palms, California (his duty station), he told me he never slept well due to the fact that he had so many things racing through his mind with so much responsibility as a Corporal. Well, the bars been raised even higher for him.

Thank you so much for listening. Thanks for your prayers and for praying for our lost marines, soldiers and their families! They won't be forgotten!

Jeanie

For 10th Mountain Division

I ordered this on behalf of my son who is currently stationed in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, US Army. He is giving it as a gift to a comrade in memory of their fallen. He ordered one for himself while he was home on leave.

They are in the thick of it...in the mountains, wilderness, caves. God Bless the USA and God Bless our Troops.

To Show My Pride For What We Are Doing In Iraq

I am a Flight Nurse in the Air Force Reserves and have served for 22 years. I have recently been deployed to the Middle East Serving in Africa, Qatar and Iraq. I transported many sick and injured and have grown a real sense of pride for what we are doing over there.

I chose this bracelet because he is a POW of Iraqi Freedom and I have served there, and also I was just returning from my first deployment last year when Keith was captured. Actually he was presumed KIA at one time.

Capt Denise

To Replace Our Bracelets From The 70's

I had ordered one each for my mother, sister and myself. We all wore these bracelets back in the 70's and they had broken and didn't get replaced. I bought my sister hers for her birthday. Was she ever excited! My sister and myself proudly wear the same bracelet as before, Col. Michael O. McElhanon, USAF. We have a personal connection with this brave man's family. We both went to school with his daughters. They are both wonderful people and he would be very proud of them. My mother also proudly wears the same bracelet she wore in the 70's, Henry H. Herren, USNavy. She has done a lot of research on him. He was a Navy photographer when his plan went down.

We are from a very patriot family and proudly wear these bracelets. It is wasn't for the brave men and women of our nation risking their lives, both past and present we wouldn't enjoy the freedoms. There are so many in this nation that take FREEDOM for granted everyday. My ex-husband was in the Air Force, stationed in Fort Worth, Texas in the early 90's. I was very proud to be able to support him and my country, being a miliatary wife.

Thanks,

Stephanie

For Sgt. Michael J. Kelley

I just received my Memorial Bracelet and it is great. It fits well and I am so honored to wear it. I ordered a bracelet for Sgt Michael J Kelley from Mass who was killed in Afghanistan June 8,2005. He was under my husband's command while stationed at Otis Air force base in Otis, Ma. I met him when I would drive onto base. Always a pleasant and professional man who loved his country. Sgt Kelley is greatly missed by my family although we only knew him a short time. 

Susan S.

Freedom Is Not Free

I wear my bracelet as a constant reminder that freedom is not free

9-11 Is Very Personal For Me

I was a career volunteer/paid-on-call firefighter and EMT in PA and MA last serving in Northampton County, PA during 2002. I trained at Randalls Island (FDNY) through their weekend courses and knew some of those FDNY killed at the WTC. I also Worked In Mid-Town Manhattan untill 2002 and knew some of the civilians that were killed. Lastly, Ralph Kershaw, killed on Flight 175 from Boston, was a colleague of mine from the days when I lived and worked in the North Shore area of Boston. 9/11 is very personal for me and a watershed event in my life.

To Show How I Feel About 911

My reason for this bracelet starts with my lack of emotion for 911. That day completely caught me off guard. I knew that it was terrible. I knew that everyone's lives changed that day. I guess with such an overload of emotion running through me, I couldn't cry. I hated that I couldn't cry, I couldn't make myself cry. I felt that my body needed to cry in the worst way. 2 and 3 years later we all went through the brutal beheadings of innocent victims of terrorism. When Paul Johnson's story came on the news and that he was awaiting execution, is when 911 happened all over again in my heart...I don't know if it was the straw that broke the camel's back or what, but a flood of emotion hit me quite hard that day. That time I felt everything I didn't feel on 9/11 that I should have. My heart broke to see Paul's son on the Today show talking with Matt Lauer begging for his father's life. I decided from that point on that I would not forget Paul Johnson. I know that he was a loved father. I will carry his name proudly on my wrist.

To Remind Me To Pray For Our Service Men And Women

I have worn a Vietnam POW bracelet for years (I think I got it in 1989) I have been wearing it since the war on terrorism to remind me to pray for our service men and women. I was searching on the internet to see what the status of the person who was named on my bracelet. And in finding that his gear was found and returned to the family I decided to get a new bracelet, I decided to get an Iraqi freedom to be an obvious prayer reminder (plus I love when people ask what the bracelet I am wearing means. I chose someone who was killed on my birthday.

A Way For Us To Have Him Close

I met the soldier, Capt Eric Allton, back when we were teenagers. We quickly became close friends and then high-school sweethearts. During this time, his parents became like my second set of parents. Unfortunately, as sometimes happens, we ended up going our separate ways after highschool, and ended up marrying people we met at our respective colleges. However, we stayed in contact throughout the years (over 15 years), and I've stayed in close contact with his parents as well. Communication over email made it seem like he was just next door -- regardless of whether he was state-side (in the same state where I live), or across the US, or even across the world. Therefore, his death in Iraq has devastated not only his own immediate family, but had drastic effects on my family as well. I've ordered these bracelets for Eric's parents, as a way for them to have him "close", even though he is in Heaven now, watching over all of us.

I Wanted To Show How Strongly I Felt About My Brother And His Mission

I am the brother of a serviceman in the middle east. I wanted to show how strongly I felt about my support for him and the mission that he and his colleagues are involved in. I purchased a bracelet in the early summer and wore it everyday since. Until one evening I realized it had fallen off. I frantically searched for it and couldn't find it. I figured I would not miss it but found myself sitting in front of the computer at midnight that evening ordering a replacement. I had committed to memory the solder who gave his life for his country and ordered a bracelet with his name on it again. I was very pleased when I saw on your site that I could order a larger size. I have had it on since it showed up. It has become a popular of jewelry at my place of employment as many folks have ordered their own for their own very personal reasons.

Thanks again,
Seth

I Will Wear One Like My Father's To Honor Those Oversea

My father just received his bracelet the other day. It was extremely well done and a lot nicer than his older one (he had one for a Vietnam MIA that he bought before I was born). My father was never in the military, but has a lot of respect for those that are and were. In our family history is a big part of our lives. He wore the Vietnam MIA all the time to remind him, in case he had a rough day, that the man whose name is on the bracelet had a much worse day than he can imagine. One day in the fall of this year he spoke to me about a man wearing a similar bracelet, but for Iraqi Freedom. He had told me that he would like to retire his Vietnam bracelet for something more recent that he could relate to. That is when me and my mother searched the Internet and came across your website. We felt it was very organized and full of options. When we started searching for names it was an extremely solemn moment. We choose a man who was an officer and lived close to Spotslyvania, VA. Our intentions were to give it to him as a gift for Christmas, which we totally understand that having it in time was not possible. If there is one thing I will never forget in my life is when he read a letter I made for him explaining that we bought him a bracelet, and at that moment he started to cry. It was a very emotional moment for several minutes, considering that I have only seen him cry two times in my life, and this is one of them. I would just like to thank your corporation for the splendid job you people do in making something other people can wear to remember and honor our fallen and missing heroes. Hopefully someday I will wear one like my father's to honor those oversea.

Thank You Very Much,

Keith

A Reminder That Nothing Is Greater Than One Who Lay Down Their Life For Others

Although both fortunately and unfortunately, I have the opportunity to bring up good friends whom I served with in the United States Army. I have purchased two so far, but already have friends back home that would like them as well...So I look forward to doing business with your company again. It is a shame to think of how many we have lost, but I find solace in the fact that SO many of us...will never forget them. I wear mine as a constant reminder that our lives are to chance, and that nothing is greater than one who lay down their life, for their country.

May God Bless The USA,
Jeff

To Keep His Memory Alive In Me

The man's name, 1LT Luke Wullenwaber, on the bracelet was our company executive officer and my first line supervisor. He and I worked, and interacted several times a day together. He was full of energy and always brought a smile to everyone's faces with is jokes, and personality.

He was kill on Nov 16 2004 by a car bomb in Kaladia Iraq. His memory and work ethics are still in our everyday lives. I ordered the bracelet to keep his memory alive in me and to share his attributes with the rest of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Mariens there my actions and a desire to full fill his expectations.

Thanks again
Garrett

I Wanted To Pay Tribute To One Fallen Hero While Remembering Them All

I grew up with Greg Stajk in Kings Park. We graduated together. Many others I know were lucky to get out...they described their experiences in great detail. Number One was the bravery of the FDNY...Greg lost his life saving others. I know hundreds of other brave souls died helping others, but I wanted to pay tribute to the one I knew while remembering them all.

I keep in touch with his brother...Greg's family is grateful for all the support the world has shown.

Carol