i never knew kevin but i know amy and harold. amy is such a fun-loving person, so bright and very beautiful. i know that kevin came from a wonderful close knit family. he must have been a beautiful person too. my heart goes out to the family!!!

Its been two weeks since Kevin died and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Kevin, the people I met, and all that was learned that week. It definitely was heavy for all of us – One can read articles, watch videos on YouTube, and hear stories about what went on but no one will ever be able to fully comprehend and empathize with what we went through that week unless they were there themselves.

Personally, it was Kevin’s viewing on Friday that struck me the most. There were all kinds of people that came to pay their respects to Kevin. It was not easy to stand in line and greet loved ones, friends, colleagues, etc. But, for me, it was even harder when we came upon parents who lost their own son/daughter in war – one mother was crying because her son is in Afghanistan and she hasn’t heard from him since Thanksgiving. Look in their eyes and you can clearly see how broken they are. My heart sank. One lady came and said she didn’t know anyone in the room - not Kevin, not one person – she was just there as an ‘appreciative American’ and wanted to pay her respects… she even wanted to get to know Kevin and asked one of the Sergeants to tell her what Kevin was like. I was truly touched.

Although those people were perfect strangers, they mourned with us and it was as if they weren’t strangers to us anymore. I cannot begin to explain how heavy those moments are to anyone… It was then that I realized the cost of war – Kevin and so many others sacrifice their lives for strangers, but so many others hurt as well. I felt as if parents, families, and loved ones not physically in the war also sacrificed their hearts for all of us. I couldn’t wait to get home that night so I could email a close friend of mine and tell her how I felt about it all. It was just too much…

Anthony said it best in his eulogy… “The only solace I find is the imprint that Kevin left behind, in the change he inflicted in each of us.” There is no doubt that everyone who was there left a changed person.

You may not realize this, but you did more than just interpret for us the minute you walked in the ICU waiting room – maybe only an hour after Kevin died. You fit right in with us at once. You grieved with us. You laughed with us (I smile every time I think back to how you described that woman we met at Taco Bell that day at lunch. Or, better yet – that dude we waited hours for! It was hilarious!). After that day together, there’s no way I cannot think of you as family. And to have you with us in Rochester for Kevin’s services was fitting – I’m so glad you came and for all you did with us and for us. Thank you.

Granted, good interpreters are rare and good friends are hard to find. But, to have a combination of both in one person is most definitely extraordinary. You’re a good man, David…

Take Care.

May you forever rest in peace, and may your family and countrymen be most proud of you for all of time, while you soundly sleep.

Requiescent in pace.