Time Heals some

Thank you, Mary.  I can’t believe so short a time has gone by.  It feels like longer.  We still think of Kurt and Alex every day and hope they are learning to cope.  May God help all of us heal.  I’m sure you and Lisa had a flood of emotions on that day.  We all did, but I can only imagine some of what you two felt with Alex being in Iraq at that time.  God bless and hold who you love close at heart.

Help our troops

Please help our service people any way you are able. There is so much we can do. Write letters, send care packages, let them know they are not fighting our war alone. Our family is still deeply mourning the loss of Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling KIA Afghanistan July 2008. Yet we reach out to others in small ways. We feel these are small ways, but the person on the receiving end cherishes every letter and can of spray cheese (yeah – it’s a favorite). Just to hear their name called at Mail Call makes them feel special.

Just give back a little. The rewards are great. I can’t even picture myself in their shoes. God bless our troops and God bless you. It hurts a little less some days. Some days it hurts a lot. Thanks for the support.

Proud and sad goodbye

Those of us at Jefferson Barracks sad our last goodbye to a bright young man.  His fellow soldiers and family shared the grief and honor they felt being a part of this man’s life.  It is his life we honor.  His death we mourn.  The Guardian’s flags flapped in the breeze as we caravan to the cemetery.  It was a sight to behold.  If Gunnar was watching, what a kick he got.  Don’t wait for death to honor soldiers you know.  Honor them now.  Send letters and packages.  Let them know they are loved and cared for in the now.

We share our grief

Today the friends and family gather to pay their last respects to a young soldier killed in action.  Twenty year old Gunnar Zwilling will not see his friends and family, but through God, will know that he was loved and will be greatly missed.  The pain of his father and those fathers before him is the pain of a nation at war.  When will we be able to bring our soldiers home?  Please write your Congress and Senate and let them know how you feel.  God bless.

The pain in waiting.

Our family waits to honor youg Gunnar.  Six days ago we heard the new of his horrible death and that of others in his group.  The names of these other families are unknown to me, but not forgotten by any of us.  The fragility of life is not unique to just one family.  Other families are experiencing grief the same as we are.  My deepest sympathy to you all.  Inconsolable is the only word that expresses how I feel for all killed in action during this and every other war before.  May we find peace in our lifetime.

In memory of Gunnar Zwilling

I mourn so much for a young man and his family (our family) it is the first thing I think of when I wake.  Kurt, if you read this, I can only imagine your pain.  When I spoke to Kath, I knew that inconsolable was the only way you could be feeling. My hope for this blog is that we may try to console you, Alex, the rest of Gunnar’s family, freinds, brothers and sisters in harm’s way and ourselves.  We are at a loss.  What can we do for you but show our love and support.

This war, like many, takes the brightest of the bright.  Those we have such high hopes for.  Those that we love with all our being.  People have said to me that there is a randomness to who gets taken in war.  That it could have been anyone.  I totally disagree.  It was those who were there.  Those who knew what they were getting into and went anyway.  It was nine human beings.  Gunner and other courageous servants of our country.  For them I mourn and feel indebted.

For anyone who sees this blog, please post your feelings for the fallen and killed in action.  We honor them too little.