Remembering Sgt. Michael Stokely, KIA 16 August 2009

I will write much more about this later this weekend (I'm going to try to get a video together & posted, if I can figure out how, and have some pics to post as well), but I wanted to get SOMETHING up here NOW.

On August 16, 2005, our little town of Loganville lost one of our own in the War on Terror, Sgt. Michael J. Stokely. Our family did not know Mike, or his friends, or his family...but his loss - and one so close to home -- hit us hard nonetheless. Over the intervening years, we've had the honor and priviledge of getting to know his family, and many of his friends.

Each year on the anniversary of his death, at the exact hour of his death, Mike's family, friends, and even those of us who never knew him, gather at his gravesite to remember and pay our respects. Tonight was that annual gathering. Two of his friends who served with him in Iraq were not there tonight. They are two of our family's adopted soldiers (and dear friends of ours) and are currently serving in Afghanistan. Their absence was felt, but I know they were with us in spirit, as we are with them.

I will write a more thorough post later, but I just wanted to get something up here now... Please, take a moment to reflect on what our freedom costs. Don't ever, ever take it for granted. Stop now to say a prayer for the families of the fallen, and for all our troops currently serving, wherever they may be. Have you thanked a Soldier or Veteran today? If not.. do. They deserve it.

More to come later, just didn't want to waste any time in getting something up here to honor Mike.

Love & prayers,
Mama Kat & Family.

In Honor of Major Kevin M. Jenrette

Finally...here is the slideshow of pics from the day of Major Jenrette's service. Community support was HUGE. This next week, another Georgia National Guard Hero will be laid to rest in Calhoun, GA. I will be unable to attend due to work, but my prayers are with the family.

Not again... Dear God... RIP 1SG John D. Blair

Yet another of our Georgia National Guard Heroes has fallen... Any time we lose a hero, it's way "too soon" -- but we just laid to rest the other three we lost less than two weeks ago... and already, here, another hero fallen... No more, please... they need to stay nice and safe and not get so much as a scratch, please... War sucks. It's necessary sometimes, but that doesn't make it suck any less. God wrap yourself around each of these families (from last week, and this week) and give them Your comfort, Your strength, Your peace... walk with them every step of the way and hold them up...their lives have been horrifically shattered, and will never be the same again. I don't know the "right" thing to pray, except to say, "God, help them... please."

I haven't yet had a chance to fill y'all in regarding Major Jenrette's service, nor the amazing "Welcome Home" for a wounded hero last week. I'll get to it later on, hopefully - but for now, I must honor 1SGT Blair... we will never, ever forget his service and sacrifice...never, ever take our freedom for granted... Thank you, sir... you WILL NOT be forgotten.

From a North Georgia news channel, Channel 9, comes this article:

North Georgia Soldier Killed in Action
Richard Simms
June 22, 2009 - 2:34PM

A North Georgia soldier has been killed in combat in Afghanistan.

First Sergeant John D. Blair, 38, of Gordon County, Ga. was killed when
his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade on June 20.

First Sergeant Blair was a former deputy sheriff in Gordon County, and was later attached to the Drug Task Force as part of the Georgia Army National Guard's counter-drug operations.

Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston issued the following statement:

"It is with great sadness & regret that the Sheriff's Office received official notice from the Department of Defense that First Sergeant John D. Blair, age 38, of Gordon County, and was killed in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on June 20th. The Department of Defense has reported that Blair was killed when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle near Mado Zayi.

"John was a former deputy sheriff here in Gordon County, and was later attached to the local Drug Task Force as part of the Georgia Army National Guard's counter-drug operations for several years. John served as a full-time deputy sheriff from June, 1994 until August, 1998 when he left the Sheriff's Office to assume full time duties in the National Guard.

"During his local service with the National Guard's counter-drug operations, John served as a reserve deputy sheriff from October, 2006 until December, 2008, when his National Guard unit was mobilized for duty in Afghanistan. He was an extraordinarily skilled operative, specializing in covert drug-enforcement surveillance.

"During his time in the Sheriff's Office, John served as a jail officer, deputy sheriff, & sheriff's detective. He also served on the Office's honor guard, & SWAT team. His former superiors described him as an exemplary officer. He was officially commended on a number of occasions during his law enforcement service here. John remained very close friends with members of the Sheriff's Office, and officers communicated with him by telephone & email in the days & weeks preceding his death.

"Sheriff's Office employees were shaken at the news of John's death. The flags at the Sheriff's Office complex are being flown at half-staff, and deputies are wearing black ‘mourning' bands over their badges in honor of Blair.

"Sheriff Ralston said, 'John was a patriot, a truly dedicated & excellent peace officer. He met our America's enemies bravely, and laid down his life in the service of his people, his community, and his Country which he loved so much. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten. Please keep John's family & friends in your thoughts and prayers."

That we most certainly will.. prayers going out for all, continuously.

MamaKat & family

~Heartsick~

I know, I know, it's been eons since I've blogged here - or blogged anywhere, for that matter, LOL. Life - knee surgery, unemployment, job searching, temp work (43 miles from home, might I add - hopefully should be "really" hired soon, I hope), computer crashes, and once again starting college have kept me busy to the extreme, and my blog has been gathering layers of dust, sprinkled with cobwebs and a downright scary empy echo. But, events from this week have compelled me to brush off the dust, do some spring cleaning, and hit the keyboard once again. Yep, I'm back - expect me to be around much more frequently! (I heard that groan of dismay, lol... sorry, you'll adjust, I promise you will! ;) )

On a very serious note....

You may or may not know, that our Georgia National Guard guys, the 48th Brigade, have deployed to Afghanistan. They deployed in waves, starting in early spring, and I believe they are all over there now. Anyone who's read this blog longer than 2 minutes (LOL) knows that all soldiers & veterans are very important to me, and our local heroes in particular.

Earlier this week, we lost three of our Heroes, in one single incident.

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.

Killed were:

Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Ga.,

Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Ga., and

Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Ga.

My heart sank when I read the DOD announcement. The sorrow hasn't abated since I first read it... indeed, it's gotten more profound. I don't know these Heroes or their families, but they are "ours" nonetheless. If the Patriot Guard Riders are invited to participate in their services, I will move heaven and earth to be there, no matter what (as long as it's on a weekend...still only temping at my job and do not have vacation days yet, so I can't miss work, unfortunately). But I'll be there for anything I can be there for.

Our family has friends in the 48th deployed to Afghanistan right now...soldiers we adopted during the 48th's first tour to the Sandbox, who, on their return, got to know our family and we theirs.. friends who grew up with Sgt. Mike Stokely, who was KIA on 16 August, 2005 and is now buried only two miles from our home. I anticipate not sleeping too much, and doing even more-than-usual praying, over the next several months, and I've already got care package stuff and letters ready to go, once I have their addresses (they just got there). Our family's adopted soldiers (whether we actully *know* them "in person" or not) really do become part of our family, and we care for them as if they were our own kin 'for real.' Thanks be to God, in nine years of adopting soldiers (yes, well before the war started), we've never, ever lost one yet. *knocking on wood* But the risk is always there -- that's the reality of war.

So, I grieve for the heroes above who were lost, and pray for the ones left to carry on, and for all our heroes deployed all over the world, wherever they may be.

For those who were lost, and for the veterans who have served, know this: We will NEVER forget. Ever.