He Stood Watch...Now It's Our Turn

Today I buried a boy who I knew when he was a kindergartner and i was 19. It was my first job, right out of high school and to pay for college. Cody Stanley and Cade Stanley were two boys, grandson's of my mother's friend and co-worker Anne. Cody was in Kindergarten while Cade was enrolled in the daycare where I worked. Right away I was drawn to Cade. He was quiet, gentle and sweet. A very shy child, the fact that I knew his grandmother and his uncles drew him to me. That spring we became fast friends and he won a special place in my heart. Cody enrolled in the daycare that summer. Cody too was a very sweet and gentle child but where Cade was painfully shy, Cody had a more adventurous spirit. He was shy with people he didn't know but it didn't take long for him to show his true personality. I had them for that year before I left the daycare to work in the elementary school library. There I found my sweet, beautiful boy Cody. He was in 1st grade and his teacher's classroom was down the hall from the library and my office. He was so happy to find a familiar and friendly face in an unfamiliar place. Right away, he settled into the routine of school. Being a country boy, he arrived to school early on the bus and would spend the mornings in the library where we'd talk, tell jokes, look at books and do puzzles. My beautiful boy always had a smile on his face and a sparkle in his beautiful blue eyes. He never left without a quick hug for me. He was my baby. Two years later Cade entered 1st grade and again, his frightened eyes brightened at a familiar face in the unfamiliar place he found himself. Shortly thereafter I left the school and my baby boys moved to Smithville. But I carried them in my heart always.

I saw my boys once more before today...the day we buried their beloved PoPo. Cody was about 10 or 11 and cade was 8 or 9. Seeing their little faces so full of sorrow and their eyes haunted by sadness is an image I will carry all my life. My heart broke that day and as much as I wanted to take them in my arms and just hold them and take all their pain into myself, I couldn't.

Today I saw my beautiful boy, but only in pictures. My beautiful, sweet, gentle boy was killed Wednesday, October 28, 2009, while fighting for our country in Afghanistan. While providing ground support with his battalion, he was killed when an IED (improvised explosive device) detonated near him. USMC Lance Corporal Cody R Stanley died in service to his country, his state, his community, and his family. It was his second tour in a hostile country where he was not wanted. Today, a mother buried her first born child, her 21 yr old baby. A young man who hadn't yet had a chance to love, have children of his own. A young man who lived his life with a grace, compassion and gentility you don't see often anymore, much less in one so young. A life lost is a tragic event, a life lost for no good apparent reason in a war that shouldn't be is a travesty.

I love my country, I am grateful and love all our troops who sacrifice daily for our freedom, but I do NOT support this war. It is a sad day in our country when we send our young men and women to fight a war that has no purpose. Its time to bring our troops home. Bring our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters home. Do NOT send one more child to die on foreign soil.

To the Patriot Guard, Thank you. Thank you for honoring our fallen son, our beloved Cody. Your time and effort to honor his memory and sacrifice was truly appreciated by all who knew and loved Cody.

To the town of Smithville, Texas, THANK YOU for welcoming him home and honoring his life with your show of respect and gratitude along the procession route. Thank you to all the servicemen, USMC, Navy, Army, Fireman, Sheriffs, Constables, National Guardsmen who attended and helped to make the journey run smoothly. God Bless all who stopped and shed a tear or raised a hand in salute. Cody surely was smiling down upon it all.

To the family, my sincerest sympathies and condolences on your loss. The world is a lesser place for having lost a bright and shining spirit. Cody's sacrifice will NOT be forgotten....EVER.

I love you my beautiful boy. You will live in my memory and my heart forever. Safe travels my dearest Cody.