Thank you, Jesse!

This holiday season and for the rest of our lives, I urge you all to remember Army Sgt. Jesse J.J. Castro and other fallen soldiers like him who fought and died for our continued freedom, which they proudly and willingly gave their lives for. Remember his courage, his honor, and his integrity. Remember his family, whose loss almost none of us know anything about and whose hearts will heal in time but will be scarred forever. Most importantly, remember Jesse, even if you never met him or knew him personally, because he remembered all of us when he chose to step onto the battlefield and defend us. I for one will always remember him even though I only knew him briefly as an extended family member.

Don’t waste your time telling their family members, “It’s okay,” because it’s not okay. It has never been and will never be okay to lose a loved one, whether it be to a war or to a deadly disease. Life is not something that can be replaced whenever it is lost. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Sure, their spirits can live on in our hearts and minds, but things will never be the same again.

Tell their family members “Thank You” instead. Thank you for raising one heck of a son or daughter. Thank you for teaching them to be so compassionate and giving. Thank you for being such a great parent. Thank you for being such a great wife who stood by your husband and our country so unselfishly.

Jesse and every other fallen soldier are heroes who should be honored forever. They bravely took our worst fears and worries and put it on their own shoulders. They made life easier for us by volunteering to stand at the forefront of the war on terrorism and allowing us to continue our lives as we normally do, worrying about our nails and our hair as they worried about our freedom.

Pacific Daily News quoted Jesse’s mother on Dec. 11 saying that Jesse “always had a strong connection to the Christmas holiday” and “was even cast as baby Jesus in his church Nativity play, but didn’t make it because he was born days later than expected.” According to the PDN reporter, “This Friday, Baby J [Jesse’s two-week old son] will play the role his father Jesse Castro didn’t get to, starring as the baby Jesus in the Our Lady of Peace and Safe Journey Catholic Church’s Nativity play.” Contrary to the remarks of this reporter, Jesse did get the opportunity to play the role of Christ, though not as a baby or in any play. As ironic as it may seem, Jesse played the role of Jesus in real life when, like Jesus Christ, he too sacrificed his life for us so that we as a society could live better and have a brighter tomorrow.

So therefore, in honor of Jesse and in the spirit of the holiday, I encourage you all to make a contribution to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, “a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that was founded in October 2003 as a means of providing college grants and financial assistance to the surviving children and spouses of our U.S. military service members who have lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.” Keep in mind that any amount you give will make a difference and that no amount will ever be able to repay these brave soldiers.

Thank you, Army Sgt. Jesse J.J. Castro. Thank you, Jesus Castro (father), Doring Jesus (mother), Theresa Castro (wife), and Baby J (son). May God be with you always.

Thank you, Sgt. Wilgene Lieto, Specialist Derrence “Jeff” Jack, and Sgt. Eddie Chen. Thank you to your family members, and may God continue to bless them.

“What you all did in your lives will echo in eternity.”