Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"September 1, 2008
To the family of Spc. James T. Grijalva:
James gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"To the family of:James T. Grijalva I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga"

"To the Family of SPC James Grijalva:
We have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq. Our memorial includes, as of 8/28/06, 162 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put James' name on one of them. We have called our display "Arlington MidWest." It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at arlingtonmidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to come to visit Arlington MidWest if you can. A friend has put us up on his website so you can see the memorial here:
www.williamgbecker.com/ArlingtonMidwest.html.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.""
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media as stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron Schilling of Illinois

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness,
and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief.
Our nations HERO, James will be remembered by name.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless you ALWAYS.
Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To the Grijalva family,

My family extends our heartfelt sorrow for the loss of your precious JAMES. Please know that his life will be celebrated and remembered as an American Hero. It takes special people to become soldiers and we are so grateful to him and you for his service to our Country. James served with Pride and Honor in order to keep us safe here at home.

May God Bless you as you try to heal from this tragic loss.

From a grateful American Family,"
Craig & Sharon Erwin of Oregon, United States of America

"TO THE GRIJALVA FAMILY FROM THE WAHL FAMILY. DEEPLY SORRY OF THE NEWS! JAMES HAS NOT GIVEN HIS LIFE IN VAIN. JAMES IS AN AMERICAN HERO! JAMES CONSIDERING THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. JAMES YOU ARE THE ELITE OF ALL AMERICAN'S. IT WAS YOU UNSELFISHLY, ANSWERED THE CALL TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. RISKING EVRYTHING FOR US ALL. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. MORE THEN THAT FOR BEING A MILITARY BROTHER TO OUR SON. JAMES MEN LIKE YOU MADE IT EASIER FOR OUR FAMILY. NOT TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SON. FOR WE KNEW HE WAS BEING WACTHED AND PROTECTED BY ALL HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE MILITARY. SADLY, WE LOST GREGORY LAST YEAR IN BALAD, IRAQ 2004. ONE THING IS TRUE, YOU ARE SOMEONE'E SOMEONE; AND YOU ARE SOMEONE TO OUR FAMILY JAMES. OUR HEART AND PRAYS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE DIFFUCULT FOR YOUR FAMILY. NO ONE REALLY HAS ANSWERS TO COMFORT THOSE HURTING. WE ALL DEAL WITH IT VERY DIFFERENTLY. I SUGGEST THAT ONE THING TO REMEMBER, TO REACH OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND POLTICIAL LEADERS TODAY. TO REQUEST A STREET BE HONORED IN JAMES NAME. SO NO ONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY WILL EVER FORGET JAMES; HIS SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY, COUNTY, STATE AND COUNTRY. IT IS THE VERY LEAST HIS COMMUNITY CAN DO FOR JAMES. JAMES HAS TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF SO MANY. TO THOSE IN HIS COMMUNITY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOR'S, RELATIVE'S, THOSE IN IRAQ, AND HIS MILITARY FAMILY OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS. ALL THAT SHARES VERY PRCIOUS MOMENTS WITH JAMES. WE AS FALLEN FAMILIES MUST KEEP FOCUS. TO ALWAYS HAVE EVERYONE HONORING OUR LOVE ONE'S. WE TODAY HAVE FAILED PAST FALLEN HEROES FROM WWI, WWII, KOREAN AND DESERT STORM. WE CAN NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO JAMES AND ALL OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS FROM AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ. ONE WOULD THINK THE TEARS WOULD STOP FOR MY SON. CHANCE'S THAT HAPPENING NOT. FOR WITH EACH FALLEN SOLDIER IT JUST IS A REMINDER. AN THE TEARS FLOW DOWN MY CHEEK AS FOR GREGORY NOW FOR JAMES. GREGORY ONCE TOLD ME; DAD NO NEED TO WORRY. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE MY BACK AS I DO THEM. STILL I FEEL THE PAIN OVER AND OVER. YET, I KNOWN THIS; WE MUST ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS! JAMES YOU REST! YOU ARE AN AMAZING SOLDIER, AND FAMILY MAN. THANK YOU AGIN JAMES! GOD BLESS!"
leonard t. wahl of VALLEY STREAM NY

"Thank you James Grijalva, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Spc. James Grijalva:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless James for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Spc. James Grijalva:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of James, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia