Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"You are not forgotten Brother."
SGT Anthony Ciaravino of Maryland Heights, Missouri

"Ten years today Derrick. Not a day goes by that I do not think of you. Some days it still seems like yesterday. You are not forgotten."
SuzAnne of Englewood Florida

"Hey its your nephew Gage I love you and want to join the army and wear your shoes I love you"
Gage of Key Largo,Florida

"Wow, Derrick it's been 8 years and 26 days since I saw you last. I still remember that night and it makes me mad every time. But I also have to remind myself that people are put on this Earth for a reason and God has a plan for all of us. I find comfort in knowing you are with Him. It doesn't make it any easier to understand why He would take such an amazing young man at such a young age. But I guess He needed you with Him more than we needed you here. You and your family will always be in my thoughts and prayers. Happy Memorial Day. Miss you, brother. Keep looking down on us."
Lonny Nelson of Pittsburg, KS

"Miss ya brother. I'm taking my time as usual but I'll get there. Save a place for me I'll see ya when I get there."
Darin Free of Slaughterville, OK

"You will be missed! I know you are looking down on us and smiling. Thank you for protecting our freedom. I miss you making people laugh. I miss working with you at CCA! God bless!"
Linda Vick Kemp of Henderson, NC

"Love you Uncle Derrick! Miss you"
Zoe Lutters of Burlington,CO

"Derrick,
It's not an anniversary or anything, you just cross my mind and I wanted you and others to know it. I still have your smile in my mind and some great memories to hold me over until I see you again."
Kyla Dominick of Leavenworth, KS

"To the family of:Derrick J. Lutters
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""

"its hard to think of what to say. I worked with C/O Lutters for three years at the prison in Colorado. He was everyones best friend including mine. Im glad to see that people still think about him. A lot has happened since we knew each other. I know you would have remained my friend through it all."
Spc David Younger of Fort Hood

"dear Derrick uncle friend memory thats all you seem to be now but not for me to me you did not leave forever i will see you soon in heaven i pray God will let you see how i love you see you soon"
darian of usa

"Thinking of Derrick this Memorial Day weekend. I was with him in Iraq, but in another unit. I remember that his memorial service at camp Sapper was difficult because it really brought home the danger we faced every day. We always knew it was there, but tried to ignore it because focusing on the risks would make it impossible to accomplish any mission.
Thank you for your service and may we as individuals and a nation always be mindful and appreciative of the extreme sacrifice your family has made for the cause of freedom."
Jack Dwyer of St. Louis, MO

"it has been 6 yrs now brother that i dont think of u and now that im back over here its harder now than it was 6 yrs ago but i know now that u r in a better place and a better army i will never forget u brother"
SGT Joseph Buster of camp Arifjan kuwait

"Hey,
Just bored on the computer, and thought I would leave a message for ya. It's been a long time since I have left a message on your message log thing.Still in 7th grade, I also have good grades well actually average grades. Right now is Spring Break. We got a puppy now
too. Her name is Pepper, my dad saved her, your brother Paul. Well the puppy doesn't:
Bark
Shed.
She is potty trained, well someone else probably trained her, she loves me. I love her! She follows me every where,but I'm working on teaching her to just sit on the couch and not follow me. So I was just thinking about you uncle derrick. Also I finally turned 13 on March 1st. I love being a teenager too.Well, love you, talk to you later sometime.

Bye

Zoe
Sarah
Lutters"
Zoe Lutters of Burlington, Colorado 80807

"Today is Veteran's Day
sadly I very sad about Derrick Lutters death because he was my uncle he died when I was 6 years old.
Here is a story about his death:

He was doing a mission on a bridge they didn't know that there was a bomb under the bridge after a little bit on the bridge. BBBOOOMMMBBB the bridge blew up. Every person on that bridge died or injured severly.
My uncle was on that bridge he died when I was 6.

Just remember the people who died in the army.
I am in 7th grade now.
I have always prayed for him to come back and meet him again."
Zoe Lutters of Burlington, CO 80807

"Hey Pal, it has been a while since I last left a message for you. As I said in my last one to you that I would not let your memory be forgotten. www.thegivebackranch.org was and is the place that all that love this great Country can go to honor those like you. I started this with you in mind as you know. We at the ranch have been hard at work trying to gather support for this cause. It has been slow going, however we will never stop. This will be the most wonderful Dedication to our Heros like yourself that has ever been seen... All of us at the ranch love our veterans and we will succeed in this venture. As we say at the ranch " They Chose To Protect Us, It Is Our Mission To Serve Them."( Rhonda Jones ) Thank You Derrick for being who you are. Pals to the end. Former Sgt. Michael "Mick" Reed"
Michael T. Reed of Woodbury,Tennessee

"Miss you dearly uncle Derrick I just wish you were still alive right now.
PRAYING FOR YOU
I am 12 when you died I was 7 so
PRAYING FOR YOU
MISS YOU
LOVE YOU
Zoe
Sarah
Lutters"
Zoe Lutters of 48551 Hogan Drive,Burlington Colorado,80807

"Love ya uncle derrick
Miss you dearly"
Zoe Lutters of Burlington, CO 80807

"Hey buddy, been thinkin' about you alot lately. I miss you man. I wish everyone could know you like I did. What a hoot! I will see you again one day and we can build that hotrod in the sky. Love ya brother!"
Glen Vaughn of Palestine, Texas

"I never want to forget the sacrifices of so many young men and women. I am so proud it makes me cry. I understand in theory only that war is a part of human nature but so is love and caring. I wish I could take the families pain away but I can't. I am committed to loving ALL people, myself and our environment. I am committed to working on my happiness everyday because so many have died for my freedom to live my life. Thank you is not enough but it is all I have. All my love and respect. ogersteiner@yahoo.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjz-wAQLSA&feature=PlayList&p=477CB1585D5551F3
A hundred times a day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am receiving. - Albert Einstein"
Scott E. Steiner of Worthington, OH USA

"Derrick we are coming up on five years. How time flys and at the same time seems to drag in it's healing process. Rose Kennedy said,'Time heals all wounds.' "I don't agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, proecting it's sanity, covers them with scar tissue, the pain lessens. But it is never gone."
SuzAnne Honeycutt of Hutchinson, KS

"Derrick it will be 5 years this year since you left there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you and all the fun we had. Every once in a while, I find myself thinking of the time you came to parker to spend Christmas with me and my family. How you helped me move from one apartment to another with nothing but grocery bags. Than how you would stay up for days playing SIMs, and by the time you would pass out you had the hole think set up like your own army with Sergeants, Lieutenants Corporals, Cadets and everything in between ,you would make me so mad because that’s all you would want to do is play that stupid game. But thank you for all the wonderful memories I love you and will never forget the fun times."
Danielle Schmidberger of Fort Morgan, Colorado

""...they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." - Isaiah 40:31"
SPC Brandon J. Russell of Ft. Scott, KS

"There are no words to say that can ever truly express my emotions but I think about you alot and i miss you everyday!! Thanks for being so brave and so dedicated and for being part of the freedom I have today!! Its been 4 years today that God took his most amazing angel home, thanks for always watchin over me!!! I love you cuz!!!"
Lindsay Tillitson of Burlington, CO

"April 28, 2009
To the family of Spc. Derrick J. Lutters:
Derrick 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

"Derrick the day will come that I will be able to tell you thanks for all that you brought to my life. I am PROUD of you and all that you stand for. We all Loved you and I make this promise to you, That your memory will be forever in the forefront of my life. I am a better person for have been your friend and I would have given anything to have been there instead of you that terrible day in May. You still had so much to do in life and the world is a much sadder place without you and your charm. Heaven is a brigther place with you there still watching over us that served with you. Blessings to your Mom And Dad. Forgetting your Son is not an OPTION. Love You Pal."
Former Sgt. Michael "Mick" Reed of Bradyville,TN

"Derrick the day will come that I will be able to thanks for all that you brought to my life. I am PROUD of you and all that you stand for. We all Loved you and I make this promise to you, That your memory will be forever in the forefront of my life. I am a better person for have been your friend and I would have given anything to have been there instead of you that terrible day in May. You still had so much to do in life and the world is a much sadder place without you and your charm. Heaven is a brigther place with you there still watching over us that served with you. Blessings to your Mom And Dad. Forgetting your Son is not an OPTION. Love You Pal."
Former Sgt. Michael "Mick" Reed of Bradyville,TN

"Spc Lutters was always fun to be around.I wasn't there the day he was taking away from us, but i will never forget.It's hard to share that day he was taking with the day i was born. He will be missed by us all."
Sgt Harrison, Patrick A of NEVADA MISSOURI

"Derrick you were my mentor into the national guard, and you were also my brother-in-arms. you showed me everything i needed to know for life let alone the military. i miss you greatly brother and i think about you often."
Spc. Kelly Ray Simmonds of Colby. Kansas

"Derrick, Thanks for all the Memories, I think of you each and every day,
Love DAD"

"Derrick,
This will be the third Veterans Day I pause in your honor and the honor of many others. When I say I think of you every day, those words could not be more true. To be honest there are days that I wish I did not think of you and then I have to replace the bad memories that haunt me with the good ones that make me smile. Your family is in my prayers daily, know that you are missed and thank you for watching over us all. God has truly blessed me with your presence in my life.
SSG Honeycutt (DOC)"
SuzAnne Honeycutt of Hutchinson, Kansas USA

"Derrick, I know it has been a while, but not a day goes by that I don't think of you and your sacrifice for this great country. Because of you we can have freedom. Thank you my brother, you are missed more than words can say"
Spc. Dan Winegar of Wichita , KS

"There has not been a day go by that I have not thought of you. When we were preparing to leave Iraq I struggled so much with the thought of leaving you and Dusty behind. People were happy to be leaving but I was not. I couldnt get beyond the thought that we would be leaving you and Dusty in Iraq. I know you are in a much better place than I. Your smile was infectious and I am proud to wear your name on my body forever.

For the family members left behind, Derrick was an awsome person and liked by everyone. Job well done with this young man."
SSG SuzAnne Honeycutt of Hutchinson, Kansas

"It's been a year ago today that Derrick was taken from this earth. He's in a much better place, but we miss him just as deeply as we did a year ago. Thank you to all who have shared memories of Derrick, they are truly precious. I know that Derrick is smiling down on all of us."
Aunt Marie of Ransom, Kansas

"It's been almost a year now but I haven't forgotten you. I know that I didn't always agree with you about the war but I respected you and you respected me nonetheless. Don't worry about your mom, my dad's been helping her out like a good brother and the whole family is too.
I remember you as the scrawny little kid playing guitar as a teenager and the big soldier swinging my brother from your arms when you tackled him.
I wish I knew you better before you died, but I guess that what heaven is for."
Alicia Dressman of Overland Park, KS

"Spc. Lutters, You are gods soldier now, no longer mine.. Derrik your my standard for a soldier and warrior. I so wish that I could have prepared you more. I will alawys look up to you for your courage and kindness. We will miss so. I was lucky to had been your platoon seargent.."
Sfc. Mark Mitzner of Afton, Ok

"Remembering a Hero who answered the call without questioning what maybe we should have."
anonymous of USA

"There are not to many people who continually have a smile on their face. Derrick was one of those people. I didn't get the chance to know him as well as I would have liked but I had a few chances to hang out and have a couple of beers with him. I'm glad that I got to serve with him it was an honor and a priveledge. Derrick is a true hero. I only wish there was more like him."
Spc. Jeremy Blevens of Neodesha, Ks

"I had the wonderful fortune of being one of Derrick's sixth grade teachers. He passed through my life with a smile and a wink. During our year together we worked on a veterans' project that left all of us feeling very proud and patriotic. As a young man he stepped into those shoes and did what he thought needed to be done. He will always be my hero."
R. Peters of Louisburg, KS

"Derrick was an awesome person, and a great friend as well, no matter what happened he was always there for you...he was a hero in life as he is now... we will never forget you Derrick, or the things that you brought to our lives. We love you and miss you everyday!!! Fly with the angels..."
Amanda Asher & Damian Bost of Burlington Colorado

"Derrick was extremely brave and a friend to all that knew him. Memories of him will keep his spirit alive forever. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family always."
AD1 (AW/SW) SPARKS USN of JACKSONVILLE, FL

"We were all furtanant to meet Derrick J. Lutters, he truly is more than just a hero, is also a true friend. We hope to keep in touch with everyone who know us and may God be with you all always. Last but not least,,,To all of us Derrick may be a fallen sodlior, but his spirit will always be around all that he knew."
marylou, mike, gomez and family of elkhart and rolla ks.

"SPC Derrick J. Lutters is our hero highlighted today, 27 July 2005, in the Mulit-National Corps Joint Operations Center in Baghdad, Iraq. I put his picture up for a moment of silence at our brief. It was seen by everyone from a Three Star General to a Private First Class. We will not forget him."
Lieutenant Commander J. Michael Hakanson, Chaplain Corps, USN of Baghdad, Iraq

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal. We are deeply sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
From the family of LCpl Branden P. Ramey, KIA 11/8/04"
Sandy of CA

"The gift of Derrick's life for our freedom will always be in our hearts."
Fred and Diana Dycus of Goodland, KS

"I did not know SPC Lutters very long, but remember the times around him. He was always ready with a joke and kept everyone in a good mood. One of the best guys I've ever had the honor of meeting. I don't think I ever saw him without a smile. He is greatly missed, as a Soldier, and even more as a friend. Hooah SPC Lutters, Hooah."
SPC Sam Frantz of HSC, 891st ENGR BN, Chanute, KS

"Derrick, you were not only our best man in the wedding but you were our best friend. A tear will fall everyday for you. We love you! You are OUR HERO. You died doing what you always loved. God will take care of you now."
Blake and Amber Helderman of Goodland, KS

"Specialist Lutters, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"To the family, in particular to you Genevieve, know our hearts ache with yours in your tragic loss. I've read many of the memorials posted in honor of Derrick...what a wonderful young man! I know he will be sadly missed, but will be forever in your hearts and your memories."
Jeff & Holly Smith of Greenville, Ohio

"We will forever be greatful for such a loving, giving, and brave young man. Our hearts ache for you Chuck and Marion. Our thoughts and prayers are with you."
Rod and Debbie Erb of Ransom, KS

"We are deeply sorry for your loss. We will forever honor your Hero.
The Courage, Honor, and Valor that your Hero showed will always be remembered.
We are grateful for the sacrifice that was made and we will NEVER FORGET.
God Bless your family and please know that you are not alone.
All of our prayers are with you."
Jennifer and SSGT Larry Mays and family of Massillon, Ohio

"We will never forget you Derrick. Your friends at Kit Carson Correctional Center in Burlington will always remember how you touched each and every one of us. Thank you for being a great friend and coworker."
Robbie and Sara Satterly of Burlington, CO

"TO THE LUTTERS FAMILY FROM THE WAHL FAMILY. DERRICK WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEART AND PRAYS. WE LOST OUR SON A YEAR AGO. REMEMBER ALL THOSE FOND MEMORIES OF DERRICK. HE IS ON A NEW MISSION NOW NOT ALONE! GOD BLESS!"
leonard wahl of valley stream ny usa

"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. Your HERO, Derrick will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you ALWAYS. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"Thank you Derrick Lutters, 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. Derrick Lutters:
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 Derrick 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. Derrick Lutters:
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 Derrick, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia