Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"I was a Naval Officer stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes from 2003-2006. About a year into my tour, I learned of the death of Pfc. Morris, fine Marine and a son of Gurnee, IL. I remember seeing his grieving father on an NBC morning program being asked about U.S. warfighting policy in the aftermath of his boy's death. The line of questioning struck me as completely heartless and inappropriate. It made me angry and sorry for his dad, who refused to dignify the idiot interviewer with some anti-American rant that would make good copy on the evening news. My respect for Mr. Morris only grew at that moment. For the rest of that day, I thought of the Marine's family and their pain, and as an Officer, I wanted them to know that their son would never be forgotten. I found Mr. Morris's address in the white pages and left flowers at his residence. I never wanted to make a scene or disturb him, so I'd leave the remembrance at the mailbox. . .just close enough to let him know that his son was forever in our hearts. One of the last things I did when I left Chicagoland for the last time was drive by that house one more time. I retired from the Navy in 2008. I often think of Mr. Morris and wonder how he is doing. I pray that he may find solace in knowing that his son is with God and that among his Marine Corps and Navy brothers-in-arms, he will never be forgotten."
CAPT Steven F. Momano, USN (Ret.) of Rochester, NY

"Geoff, my memories of you still flood my thoughts. Miss you, love you with every beat of my heart. The wrenching pain of losing you has eternally altered who I was, I am sorry for such an ungrateful community that has forgotten you and the seven others whose lives were also lost over there. Love you always !"
Dad of Gurnee, IL

"April 16, 2009
To the family of Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris:
Geoffery 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

"God Bless You
Semper FI Brother"
JR of St. Joseph, IL

"Sorry you didn't make that flight, buddy. You were one hell of a fighter."

"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

"I went to SOI and part of boot camp with Morris. He was an awesome guy. I think about him often, why not me? He was too good of a guy."
Lcpl Becerra of 2/23

"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 has 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 of illinois

"To the family of Geoffery S. Morris, I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. He died a hero defending freedom. May the peace and understanding that only comes from God be with you. Prayfully 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 at Gateway Community Church: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd. Covington, Ga. 30016 phone 770-787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ."
Polly Ballew of Covington, Ga

"To the Family of Pfc Geoffrey Morris:

My friends and I have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put Geoff's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
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 visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"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

"You will never be forgotten. Your dedication and bravery is celebrated daily, as you are missed in the community."
Joyce Campbell of Grayslake, IL

"I have just received the Hero Bracelet with Geoffery's name on it. I will wear it everywhere I go as the best way I can honor him and those who have sacrificed in the name of freedom and taking up for those who cannot take up for themselves. The prayers of my family and I go out to you and your family."
Chad Tallent of Cumming, GA/ USA

"To the family and friends of PFC Geoffery S. Morris,


"Perhaps they are not the stars,
but rather openings in Heaven
where the love of our lost ones
pours through and shines down upon us
to let us know they are happy."

Eskimo Legend


The Marine Comfort Quilt group would be honored to send a quilt to the next of kin. In the Support section of this web site you will find links to many groups that support you at this crucial time. Please register so we can send you our "Love Stitched Together."

We need you to provide the address of the next of kin so the quilt can be sent.

http://www.marinecomfortquilts.us/

click register, or

https://oxygen.vhnoc.com/~pmmquilt/register.htm

Proud Member Of Marine Comfort Quilt group, and Proud Marine Mom"
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, Ca USA"
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, Ca

"Geoffery Morris a name I will never forget. Even though I didn't know him,I feel like I do. I thank him for his sacrifice to us and to his country. I pray for his family and friends that they will find peace. He was a brave young man."
Heather Wathen of McHenry,IL

"Geoff,
I knew you when you were a little boy, and never thought of you becoming a SOLDIER. You are the best and strongest SOLDIER I know. There is not one day that goes by, that you are not remembered. You gave the ultimate sacrifice. I will always keep you in my thoughts. I miss you..."
Bm3 Alison Hall of Mundelein, Illinois/USA

"Geoff,
You were a great guy to have around. You always had faith in god and now you are with him. I was in the same platoon in boot camp as Geoff and he was always doing what he could to help others. He was a great man. I am grateful that I got to know him because of him I feel that I am a better person. Thanks Geoff"
LCPL Marquez of Bolingbrook, Il

"Geoff, you are a Brother, and a great friend. I will never forget you! You were always motivated to do the right thing in life. Until we meet again."
LCpl Robert Shipley, USMC of Zion, IL

"Geoff, there is not a day that goes by where I don't think of you. I miss you so much and will never forget you. You gave me some of the greatest memories, I will never forget the times we shared. I love you and miss you."
Krystal L. of Grayslake, IL

"RIP Marine"
Petty Officer Cawthon of RTC Great Lakes, IL

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

"Our hearts go out to you and your family. Your son will always be remembered as a hero."
The Closes of Henderson, NV

"To the family and friends of PFC Geoffery S. Morris,

Those we hold most dear, never truly leave us. May you find comfort
in love's everlasting connection.

There are many loving and caring Americans from all over the United
States that will never forget the sacrifice that your loved one has
made for our Freedom. In the Support section of this web site you
will find links to many groups that support you at this crucial
time. The Marine Comfort Quilt group would be honored to send a
quilt to the next of kin. Please register so we can send you
our "Love Stitched Together."

Proud Member Of Marine Comfort Quilt group, and Proud Marine Mom"
Sandra Moudy of Placentia, Ca USA

"Thank you for everything that you gave. We all know that you gave it your all. I went to school with Geoff last year. He was a good guy that everybody could get along with. We all all going to miss you!!! You will always be remembered. My prayers go out to your family. Geoff is always going to be remembered at Warren H.S."
Nicole of Gurnee, IL

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

"To Geoffery's Family:
There are no words to express how deeply sorry we are for your loss. May God bless you all."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincere condolences to you. We share the same loss...the same pain. Our prayers go out to you and we thank you and your brave son for making the ultimate sacrifice.

From the Family of Capt. Ernesto Blanco-Caldas, KIA Iraq 12/28/03"
Gloria Caldas of San Antonio, TX

"Rest in Peace Tufelhunden. Semper Fi
The Taylors, USMC, NC"

"Portrait Freedom is a group of scroll saw artists who have united to honor every fallen soldier of Operation Freedom. We would like to make a custom wood portrait for the family of Pfc. Geoffery S. Morris, free of charge. Our hope is that this small gift from the heart will be welcomed by the family as we stand with sympathy in the shadows of their sorrow. To learn more about this project and request a portrait, please visit the Portrait Freedom website.
Gary Browning of Scroll Saw Portraits

"Thank you Geoffery Morris, 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

"My name is Jan Lang and I am the founder of the Marine Comfort Quilts. Please accept my family's and our group's deepest sympathy on the loss of Geoffery Morris. A quilt is being made for your family in honor of Geoffery. While we started out as a group of Marine Moms, we are now a group of Military parents, Veterans, as well as the caring public, wanting to bring comfort to all of our Military families. Please go to www.marinecomfortquilts.us and register so that we may send this quilt to you."
Jan Lang of Valley Park, Missouri

"We would like to donate a canvas portrait to the family (first next of kin) of Pfc. Geoffery Morris. Our portraits have been well received. I have been donating these portraits to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom because they last forever and no one will be forgotten. You can see what our donation portraits look like at http://lionheartcreations.net/honorfallen.htm. The portrait includes an American flag in the background, an eagle, and a poem I wrote called Fallen, along with name, rank, and branch of service. We will ship the portrait to your home. This will cost you nothing. This is our way to serve and honor our fallen. Please let us serve you. You can email us to make arrangements for your portrait and this can all be done over the Internet or U.S. mail. Making the portraits takes only a day or so. Please see that the family gets this message. Our email address is on our website or you can email carlosshelter@aol.com Thank you and God bless"
Carlos, Kathy & Ashley Jones of Middletown, Ohio

"To the family and friends of Pfc. Geoffery Morris:
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 Geoffery 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 Pfc. Geoffery Morris:
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 Geoffery, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia