The Christmas letter

I recieved yesterday, is outstanding. I am going to post a few passages from it......
It comes from a highschool classmate of Gunnar's....Kristen K.
the poem below was written by Kristen, in Jan 2005, upon her being informed of Gunnar's death. She read the poem, durring a speech, in Brookings SD, on Vetrans Day, 11November 2007.
The momorial she speaks of is the Brookings County Veteran's Memorial. The Memorial is shaped like arches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Honor of Gunnar

I walked up to this memorial
on a cold January night
a soldier passed away recently
and I know God holds him tight.

I didn't even notice
the cold, the wind, or snow
because I was filled with pain
from this soldier, you may not know.

His name was Gunnar Becker
and he was quite the guy
crazy, wild and funny
made you laugh until you'd cry

He didn't graduate with merit
or make the honor roll
but I sure look up to him
because he paid the ultimate toll

Freedom and democracy
are the gifts we lavishly spend
paid for by the soldiers
who live their lives to the end

Freedom is not free
I'm sure you all have heard
The proof is Gunnar Becker
who has spoken his last word

It is painfully difficult
to even go a day
without thinking about his life
which was quickly swept away

Maybe you would have talked to him more
or even given a hug
Maybe you would have listened more
or showed more love

As I stood before this memorial
right here, that freezing night
I wondered what his last moments were
I bet he put up a fight

It is so hard to have a man die
who is only ninetten years
Dear God please be with Gunnar
and console the earthly tears

As I walked away crying
it meant so much more to me
Because ever KIA soldier
contributes to make us free

Ever soldier is someone's friend
all are daughters and sons
many are only teenagers
matured behind helmets and guns

Please thank the Veterans
maybe shake their hand
Be glad they came back alive
to the American land

But please do not forget
the ones who have sacrificed all
for that is the reason this memorial stands
timeless bold and tall.

Kristen Klinkner
2LT USAF

Worldwide Candle Lighting

The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting®, held annually the second Sunday in December, this year December 14, unites family and friends around the globe as they light candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memories of children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries. Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the Worldwide Candle Lighting, a gift from TCF to the bereavement community, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will never be forgotten. The Worldwide Candle Lighting started in the United States in 1997 as a small Internet observance but has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of the remembrance. more info, here...... http://www.compassionatefriends.org/..._Lighting.aspx


please join me, this year.........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1TDZWr_j_I