One Year Too Long

Today is the one year anniversary of Shawn's death. It's been one year too long. As I thought about what I would like to say, I found that no matter what I say or how I say it, it doesn't make it any easier.

The first time I met Shawn was the first FHE activity I went to when i moved to North Carolina. I noticed him as being extremely energetic and rambunctious. He had this huge smile on his face and loved to make everyone laugh. After FHE, he was the first guy after going to singles to ask me on a date. I wasn't sure if I wanted to and kind of blew him off just because I didn't know him that well. Now, I would give every other moment of my life to get that one with him back. I came to love being around him. One of my best memories I had with Shawn was at a dance. I remember we danced near the stage after he had gotten back from training in Georgia. After I found out he had went into the military I was sad. I was disappointed because today with everything going on, it's a constant thing for the troops to go overseas and nothing is guaranteed. The whole time we danced, we talked about our future and what we wanted to do. He was SO excited about being in the military. He was up for the challenge. We talked about going out to dinner. We never had a chance to. My friend had went on some dates with him and me and my boyfriend at the time would double or triple date with other friends of ours. In October 2005 Me, Shawn, and other friends of ours went to the Fayetteville Fair. We had a BLAST. We rode all the rides and laughed the entire time. Shawn thought it would be funny to win Sarah and I these blowup american flag hammer time things from the strength competition game. We were up really late and had such a great time. That was the last time I saw him.

He was stationed in Alaska and moved there a little while after. In Oct of 2006, he was sent to Iraq with his unit. Shawn was killed Dec 10th 06 from a roadside bomb. I found out the next day from a text from a friend. I was on my lunch break with my boss and his wife and another friend and was speechless when I got the text. I couldn't say anything. I was numb. I wanted to cry and yell at the same time but couldn't find the strength to do either. As soon as I got back to work, I went onto his myspace to write a note. When I went onto his pictures, I found the picture that him and I had taken at the fair. The comment he wrote below our picture said "ashlie and me at the fayetteville carnival, miss you ash!"

I respect every soldier who is fighting for our lives. Who are fighting for our nation. We sometimes spend our time arguing about wheather this war was the right thing to do that we forget about the soldiers who were still willing to follow the duty to serve, no matter of right or wrong. Shawn loved what he did. That was him. I'm still mad that the war has taken his life especially at such a young age. But I know that this was his plan. He died fighting and he died doing what he knew he needed to do and I have more respect for him than I ever have. Thank You Shawn for being our friend and our Hero. We love and Miss you.


Shawn's site
www.myspace.com/crazyhotguy


"Up To The Mountain (MLK Song)"

I went up to the mountain
Because you asked me to
Up over the clouds
To where the sky was blue
I could see all around me
Everywhere
I could see all around me
Everywhere

Sometimes I feel like
I've never been nothing but tired
And I'll be walking
Till the day I expire
Sometimes I lay down
No more can I do
But then I go on again
Because you ask me to

Some days I look down
Afraid I will fall
And though the sun shines
I see nothing at all
Then I hear your sweet voice, oh
Oh, come and then go, come and then go
Telling me softly
You love me so

The peaceful valley
Just over the mountain
The peaceful valley
Few come to know
I may never get there
Ever in this lifetime
But sooner or later
It's there I will go
Sooner or later
It's there I will go