Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away

Sgt. Matthew J. Sandri
Shamokin, Pennsylvania
March 20, 2004

Matt had passed his promotion board and was posthumously promoted to sergeant. He had already earned his third stripe and was doing the job, the orders just hadn't gone through.

Matt was a combat medic and died as a result of injuries sustained in a rocket attack on the medical facility where he worked, not a living area. (The insurgents were actually targeting the "clinic")

He was in Charlie company, 82nd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division.

He was at Forward Operations Base Sainte Mere Iglise near Al Fallujah from 9 Aug 03.

He previously was deployed to Kandahar Airfield and FOB Camp Salerno (near Khost) Afghanistan from Jul 02 to Jan 03.

Reprinted from http://www.iraqwarheroes.org/sandri.htm

All Good Things Must Come to An End

It's almost a year since my first blog post. It's been amazing to me to watch the progression as Tim graduated college and joined the Army. In a matter of a few weeks now, he will be a Second Lieutenant stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma with his beautiful bride, Daina.

Tim, we are very proud of you and hope that you will spend many, happy years in Oklahoma! (Two - no more than two!)

Daina! We love you and are so happy that you will be there with Tim!

Rent the movie! It's a great musical that you should buff up on!

Even more amazing is the fact that, two years after graduation from college, Justin has joined the Army and will, in his own good time, find his way through the same process as Tim, and settle into the Army way of life.

It was a difficult decision to make, but I think you made the right choice and we are very proud of you! (Hey, invite me to the wedding, ok? I LOVE kids, and I've never had a little girl of my own!)

Jonathan, always the leader of the pack, still rocks as Family's best! (you all know what I mean!) We love working with you every day and we are very proud of the niche you have perfected. Well done, son!

Jackie, we love you and we're so happy to have a new Jackie Love in the family. With you Jon found what he was looking for! Thank you for being there for him!

My domain name will expire soon but not this blog. Live the Love!

Armed Forces Day

President Harry S. Truman led the effort to establish a single holiday for citizens to come together and thank our military members for their patriotic service in support of our country.

On August 31, 1949, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day to replace separate Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Days. The single-day celebration stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense.

We salute all members of the United States Armed Forces and keep them all in our thoughts and prayers! Thank you for your service to the greatest nation! We are the Land of the Free because of the Brave!

The Sprinkler

Looking out my window
I see some old friends riding down the street
on the bikes we used to ghostride on the playground
but I broke my bike last fall
and my parents were appalled
at my lack of respect for personal property

Sitting in the basement
eating Peanut Butter Captain Crunch
watching "Flipper" and building models
but that stuff wears out faster than my All-stars
lock myself in my bedroom and play with my Hot Wheels Cars

Layin' in the back yard
playin' like a rock star
wish that I could forget
running through the sprinkler
until I'm soaking wet

I forget whatever happened to
me and all my white-trash friends
they got sick of me or I grew out of them
but they must have felt betrayed
when I stopped seeing things their way
lost all interest in the stupid plans we made

But I can still see them skating down the steepest hills
we were all fearless and our parents feared the doctor's bills
just having fun was our excuse
just being cool was the truth
don't try to stop us 'cause it ain't no use...

Layin' in the back yard
playin' like a rock star
wish that I could forget
running through the sprinkler
until I'm soaking wet

I forget, what you said, not yet