Sgt. David “DJ” Stelmat, 27, was KIA on 3-22-2008, in Iraq as a result of a roadside bomb while serving as a medic in the 237 Military Police Company.

Stelmat was a former U.S. Army infantryman who fought on the front lines in Afghanistan. He later traded his weapon for a first-aid kit as a medic with the New Hampshire Army National Guard in Iraq.

His mom, Maryanne, told me that she “would like people to remember his smile and the glint of mischief in his eye.” “My son was a well loved and respected young man.” “I was truly blessed. He was the best son a mom could ever, ever have had.” “He always wanted to help others. Perhaps what most distinguished D.J. as a person was the way he was connected. Not only to his family and his friends, but to the world he lived in.”

He loved the outdoors and for 3 years he choose to live in a humble 10×10 cabin in the woods of Franconia because he wanted to see what it was like to live like Daniel Boone.

David and his friends were responsible for a widely circulated photograph after the 2001 terrorist attacks. They climbed to the top of the Old Man in the Mountain to hang a huge American flag from the granite profile. He went back later to retrieve it, but not before some photos were made into posters memorializing the moment.

He was expected to return from Iraq after 15 month deployment and resume his studies at the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord and become a Physician’s Assistant.

May God be with Maryanne and the rest of the family bringing them comfort, especially today.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR…

SPC Jesse Conger was killed in a training accident on 3-22-02 at Ft. Lewis, Washington. A letter sent to his parents, Jeff and Ann, had this from his Commander…”I will always remember Jesse as an important member of Charlie Company. As his Commander, I can tell you this Company was great because of his efforts. Jesse touched all our lives. I distinctly remember Jesse’s constant grin that he carried with him everywhere. His joyful expressions and sharp mind were always present and made each of us in Charlie Company a little bit better for having known him.”

His mom, Ann, said “he enjoyed computers and soccer. He gave up a well paying job in computers to join the military because he wanted to serve his country and see the world.”

“God gave me Jesse for 22 years and I think Him for that.” His dad, Jeff, received a letter from Jesse after he enlisted. On it he said things to his dad that were ‘easier on paper.” “I wanted to say that you are the best dad a guy can wish for.”

On Memorial Day, 2009, the bridge in Barrington spanning the Isinglass River on Rt. 202 was renamed the Specialist Jesse Conger Memorial Bridge.

May God be with his parents, especially today, bringing them comfort.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR…

Remembering and honoring SPC Justin Rollins who was killed on March 5, 2007 in Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

I remember talking with his mother, Rhonda, later in 2007 and she had said he was due home for his break as he had been in Iraq since August 8, 2006 – that was the last time that she got to see her beautiful and loving son. She told me that Justin gave up his life so that we could have our freedoms. She said how proud she was of him and for being so strong. She said she mourns too for the plans he had of marriage (he planned to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Brittney Murray, during an upcoming leave), having children and living a full life. He was only 22. She said the families lives have changed forever – life will never be the same again. He was vivacious, always fun to be around, and was such a good friend to all.

Justin’s story can’t be told without mention of Hero the puppy that was brought from Iraq to his parents after Justin’s death. The night before Justin died, he found a dog had given birth in the back room of an Iraqi police station. According to his dad, Skip, Justin yelled for his men. They came in with guns drawn and found Justin lying on his back on the floor covered in puppies. We all have been blessed by the story of Hero and Justin’s love for this dog. Skip said that Justin always wanted to focus on the lives he saved, including the stray animals. “Saving lives was more important to him” Skip said. “…he was running around trying to rescue everything. To us, Hero was the last life he ever saved.” He really did believe in what he was fighting for.” Rhonda said of Justin, “I think he’d be thrilled there was a positive story from the negative that happened to us…He was such a happy-go-lucky guy.”

To learn more about Justin visit ~ www.rollinsride.com

Honor and Remember

Remembering SGT William Tracy – Killed on 2/25/03 in a UH-60 Black Hawk – crashed in a sandstorm during training in Kuwait.  He was assigned to B Company, 5th Battalion, 158^th Aviation, Aviano Air Base, Italy.

William graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 1993 and spent one semester pursuing his love of art at a local school before enlisting in the Marines.  After four years, he returned home for a short time before joining the Army to fly helicopters.  He was a crew chief; he fixed the aircraft on the ground and helped pilots navigate in the air.  William was a soldier to the core, volunteering for every mission.  His deployments ranged from Atlas Drop, Tunisia; Flintlock, Mali, Strong Resolve, Norway; Lariat Response, Hungary; Victory Strike III, Poland; and Enduring Freedom, Kuwait.  He loved to travel and rarely stayed home on weekends.  He remained close to his family through e-mail and long telephone calls.  He loved meeting people from around the world and brought toys and gifts with him so they would think well of the United States and its soldiers.

May God be with his family and give them comfort and peace.  Never forget.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR….