Hey buddy-

It’s me- “Moms”.

I am looking around this room- ALL these people and all of this love. It’s all for you!  I know 

you would be amazed, but the truth is it is no surprise to me.

Nearly 27 years ago, I got the best gift God could ever give a mom, Kenneth Michael, the 

sweetest, happiest baby.  I was the lucky one. I was so proud to be your “moms”.  You 

embraced life and didn’t let anything stand in your way. From the day you were born, 

this world was yours!  From the first moment in the morning when your eyes popped open, 

to the time your head hit the pillow at night, you had 2 speeds- Fast & Off.  How I tried to 

keep up with you!  

You packed more into your 26 years of life than any one person could do! What an adventure 

we had together- you & me!  I will miss watching 49er football games with you, going to 

Togo’s for your favorite #9 sandwich, and I will so miss picking up the phone and hearing your 

voice “Hi Moms, it’s me!”.  I can’t believe that we’ll never catch another baseball game and 

that I’ll never feel your hugs.

I watched you in awe!  It seems other people felt the same.  I know you loved seeing your 

pictures from Iraq posted and looking at the comments people had posted on the website I 

made up for you.  I so wish you could read those comments to see how you affected so many 

lives; how so many people’s lives are better for knowing you- or even knowing OF you. 

People from all over the world said you were brave, courageous, and respected.  You were 

a soldier’s officer and a true leader.  I wish you knew how many people considered you to be 

a friend.  They said you were having fun and that you were happy.

What more can a mother ask for than for her child to be happy?  I know you were happy 

being a soldier. To know that you were killed doing what you loved makes it all the more 

poignant. You were always my hero, and now you are an American hero.

You were my North, my South, my East and West,

My working week and my Sunday rest,

My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;

I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

Sweet dreams, buddy.  I love you.