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January 7, 2008
12:03 AM MST

I received an important phone call from Doc Liotta today. Doc Liotta was with Aaron right after Aaron was hit. Doc Duty was the Corpsman with Aaron in the very end.

Guess where Doc Liotta called me from? He was at Aaron’s grave. He and another Corpsman were traveling from New York to San Diego. While he was in Amarillo he was visited by Eric, Aaron’s brother who went out to meet him, sporting the Harley he got for Christmas. Eric called me later, saying what a nice young man Doc was and how Doc was smiling when Eric pulled up on his bike. He told Aaron’s brother, “I knew that was you!”

I’d already warned Doc as to the heavy resemblance. I told him they were two peas in a pod and that Eric was every bit as crazy as Aaron was.

I still hate the word was. Guess I’m growing because I will use it now, however, I know it all means far more than I can hope to understand right now, but one thing I came across a little bit ago was this letter that I’d written to Aaron. The document name was Hey Babe, and it’s usually been Aaron or at least one of the kids who I’ve called “Babe” so after a bit I decided to open it up. As you will see, it was written nearly two years ago, but it is still as true for me today as it was then.

Anyway, this will remain at the top so that anyone can comment here instead of having to scroll through looking for a place to leave a message to Aaron or myself.

It’s strange because I’d already thought of this a few days ago. Doc Liotta and others had left messages on the old one that has disappeared on me. There’s no telling with the way I do business late in the night sometimes. Anyway, I get this call from him and I was thrilled. I think he was going by Sunray. Doug, Aaron’s dad, was hoping he’d spend the night. I wish I could have been there, but at least I got to talk to him and I now have his phone number once again.


Semper Fi,
De’on

+ + +
"Hey Babe--Well, it won't be Feb 29 for a couple of years, but today is the last day of Feb. As you wrote in 2004: "last day in U.S."

Aaron, we all miss you so much. But I do feel your presence. Just a moment ago I listened to a daily devotional. Duke Duvall used this passage from Hebrews 12:1. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Gary Kirksey used that same passage at Uncle Doug's funeral a few weeks ago. Gary said that when he was a less mature pastor that he didn't really believe so much that those who'd gone to heaven were with us here as far as walking next to us, but now he did believe that and had for a while. He told how his son, Jamie, felt you on one side and his grandfather, a WWII vet, on his other side during a tough mission in Iraq a few months ago.

I feel you with me right now. And as much as I can, I do not want to disappoint that great cloud of witnesses. You all mean so much to me and I'm so thankful that God gives us that.

I love you. And I love so many others there with you now. And I thank God for His promise that I will be there with you when I am through here.

You are blessed. Your name means Exalted. And you are.

Thank you, son, for loving us so much before and for loving and praying for us now.

And thank you, Father God, for rescuing my son and taking him home with you. I know You know best. And I trust You and Your will for our lives down here. Be with each of us. Be with our troops. Be with our leaders. Strengthen our tired and weak bodies and minds so that like Aaron, we too are fit to fulfill Your heavenly purpose for each of us. It's in Jesus' name that I pray for each family member and each friend, each Marine that mourns this loss for us, this gain for eternity. AMEN"

Mom

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