Posted on 11/19/2004 3:41:45 PM PST by Tarpaulin
I do not take this easily.
Thank you for sharing the article.
If you want to polticized these deaths start your own thread at least have respect for the fallen.... ALL OF THEM!
I saved this pic on my computer and renamed it, "theprice".
May God Bless this family and all others that have lost their honored children in the noble effort of keeping us safe.
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
- General George S. Patton, Jr
Thank you Staff Sgt. Slay. Your life and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
God bless the Marines...and this little boy, and the other children like him. May they never have to pay the price their fathers did.
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
- General George S. Patton, Jr
Thank you for that.
May God hold them all in the palm of his hand.
God bless your boys at Pendelton. Between them and Ft. Hood, we have a world of tears...
Some good, good people in this world - and so many have been lost. The losses are hard to bear.
I hate war.
If you want to polticized these deaths start your own thread at least have respect for the fallen.... ALL OF THEM!
Marine who predicted he'd fall in Iraq is laid to rest
100th Texas service member to die wrote farewell to his children
After getting orders to report for a second tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Russell Slay told family and friends he didn't think he would make it back.
His premonition proved true as he became the 100th Texas service member killed in the war. Slay, 28, of Humble, was buried Friday following a funeral in which he was portrayed as a loving and devoted father known to make people laugh.
The 450 people attending Slay's service at Brookside Funeral Home in north Houston were moved to tears when a letter written by Slay to his 9-year-old daughter, Kinlee, and 5-year-old son, Walker, was read out loud.
"Tell Kinlee that I love her and never knew what life was before she was born," the letter read by U.S. Marine Capt. Mike Evans said. "She'll always be Daddy's little girl."
He said he wanted his daughter to have the best life possible and to be sure she went to college.
"Daddy will always be with her and watching out for her. I'll miss you. Hugs and kisses," Slay wrote.
Slay died in combat Nov. 9 along with seven others in Al Anbar, a province west of Baghdad that includes Fallujah.
To his son, Slay said he always made him smile.
"You're the sweetest little man. Be studious, stay in school and stay away from the military. I mean it. Always be a man. If you make mistakes, stand up and say so."
Slay encouraged his son to have children of his own so he, too, could "feel the joy and happiness you brought me."
"Tell them how much I love them," Slay wrote. "My family was in my last thoughts. I can't say I love you enough."
The hour-long service included comments from friends and family, including Kinlee.
Through tears the little girl reminisced about playing cars with her dad and little brother and shopping at Wal-Mart for more cars. She also fondly recalled a weekend ritual of washing the family car.
Friends and family paid their last respects to the Marine as he lay in an open casket draped with an American flag. Beside the casket stood another American flag, a U.S. Marine Corps flag and easels with portraits of Slay. Slay was buried in his military uniform and with a picture colored by his children.
At the Houston National Cemetery, as Slay's casket was escorted out of a hearse and a bagpiper played, Kinlee saluted her father. Slay's father, Houston police officer Roy Slay, was presented with a Purple Heart bestowed on his son. The flag draping the casket was meticulously folded and given to his mother, Donna Slay.
Slay's son was given his dog tags, and his daughter received a bouquet of yellow roses.
Twenty-one doves were released in Slay's honor, followed by a full military service with a rifle salute and a lone Marine playing taps. Slay's burial at the veterans cemetery was private.
Quinton Alberto, Slay's high school friend who served as a pallbearer, described Slay as a trustworthy friend and his partner in crime. The two, he said, had a great ability to scheme and an equal ability to get caught.
As examples, he said, the two decided to skip school one morning and go eat breakfast. All was fine until the high school coaches decided to eat at the same restaurant.
Then there was a time when the two skipped school to attend a matinee movie, only to discover Alberto's mother sitting behind them.
Charlie Flanagan, who officiated at the service, said Slay was not the best football player or baseball player in high school, but in Iraq he became a great band member of the group called the Texas Trio.
"He played the meanest air guitar, air drums and any other instrument," Flanagan said as those in attendance chuckled.
Slay joined the military after graduating from Humble High School. During his 10-year military career, he was trained to drive armored vehicles that can ferry combat troops from ships to beachheads during an amphibious attack. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, part of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
During his first assignment to Iraq in 2002, Slay took part in overtaking Baghdad. He left for his second mission Sept. 11.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to trust accounts established for Slay's children at the Houston Police Federal Credit Union.
war is big business, bombs and bullets are made in the good old usa.every bullet shot and every bomb exploded puts dollars in someones pocket!if the civilians all left and the bad guys stayed youre idea of carpet bombing would be great!all the civilians would not have homes to return to but at least you would be rid of all the bad guys!dont you see? its all about the money. the oil,and the chocolate! havent you ever wondered why we never fight terror and injustice in other countrys?its because they dont have a dam thing we want or need!this is the american way of life!i knew russell slay and im very proud there are young men brave enough to give their lives so we can be the safest, richest, strongest country in the world!
"i knew russell slay and im very proud there are young men brave enough to give their lives so we can be the safest, richest, strongest country in the world!"
You can thank me then, too. I'm retired Army, E-7, and an Operation Desert Storm Veteran. Just because I'm not dead, doesn't mean I didn't do my part, too. You're barking up the wrong tree with me.
And yes, it IS about the money...it's about the billions of dollars we, other countries and the Iraqi people will spend rebuilding Iraq now that Saddam is in prison and the criminals in the U.N. are finally being called to task.
God bless Ssgt slays family and friends. I served with slay the first time we went to iraq. He saved our ass at times. I was proud to serve under this outstanding marine!! As for justin killingworth I served with him to and proved to be a great friend. I hope all is well killingsworth and hope your get better.
CPl Wasmer IRR
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