Fallen Soldier

I had the honor of meeting a man today. He is a medic for the national guard, and he is in the process of getting ready for his deployment to Afganistan in 10 days.
During our encounter, I noticed a bracelet he was wearing on his right wrist. It was unique and I lifted the man's hand to get a closer look. The man told me that one of his friends had made it for him, in honor of his buddy who on this man's birthday had been killed in Iraq by a homemade bomb.
During our encounter the bracelet kept knawing at me. When we had completed our business at hand and he was ready to leave, I told him I would like to ask a favor. He asked: "What would that be.". I told him about my 365 photo challenge/blog, and I asked him if he would mind if I took a picture of the bracelet, and post it in honor of his friend. He agreed.
After I took the picture, he spent about twenty minutes telling my about his friend: Kevin Davis.
Kevin Davis was from Oregon. He was married with 3 children. He loved boats. He and Kevin worked very closely together in Iraq and had become good buddies. Kevin was just weeks away from going on R & R, and was going to spend time with his family. Kevin's wife had secretly bought a boat and was going to surprise him with it during his visit.
On April 08,2005, Kevin was killed by a home made bomb that exploded next to his Humvee in Hawijah Irag.
Kevin was a big bear of a man, the man I met was told by several of his friends that is almost seemed as if Kevin shielded them from the bomb with his body.
His wife was never able to give him the boat. They named it Kevin's Drifter, and they use the boat for a program they started. They take young men who come back from the war and are having a hard time adjusting to civilian life out on fishing trips.

We talked in more detail about Kevin and how he died. When we were done I thanked him for sharing with me and letting me take my photo. I told him "Thank you for what you do, and if you meet any of your buddies or other soldiers who don't think what they do matters to us back home, Please tell them it does" That we are praying for them and for their families!
Be safe my friend. God Bless!
You can google Kevin's Drifter if you are interested in learning more about the program they run in Kevin's Honor.