Unselfishly you left your fathers and mothers. You left behind your sisters and brothers. Leaving your beloved children and wives, You put on hold your dreams, your lives.

On foreign soil, you found yourself planted To fight for those whose freedom you granted. Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost But you carried onward, no matter the cost.

Many horrors you had endured and seen Many faces had haunted your dreams You cheered as your enemies littered the ground; You cried as your brothers fell all around.

When it was over, some came back home And some were left with memories to face all alone. Some found themselves in the company of friends As their crosses cast shadows across the land. Those who survived were forever scarred, Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.

Those who did not, now sleep eternally Beneath the ground they had given their lives to keep us free With a hand upon my heart, I feel the pride and respect; My reverence is revealed in the tears that now stream down my upturned face As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.

Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave Pain and death was the price you ultimately paid. Every day, I give my utmost admiration To those who had fought to defend our nation.

I will never forget that day when your name was announced on the radio. I was told you were killed in action. I can clearly remember the street I was driving on at that exact time. I don't know how long it took me to get over the disbelief that you were gone. You were a good friend Kevin, and I will never forget you. You were more than a hero, Kevin, you were an always will be a true patriot.

Kenny Gentile

After these long years, I finally visited your grave on May 2 and after placing a Marine Corps flag, I knelt and said the prayers of our faith. I got to the line "forgive us our trespassers as we forgive them who trespass against us. I started to understand why I was there. It was forgiveness. I was not there to forgive you; you did nothing that required my forgiveness. I was asking you to forgive me.

The more I asked about you I became painfully aware that any difficulties we may have had years ago were the result of my own paranoia and insecurity. As was the case back then, I missed out on another possible friendship. I was brought up to be a good Catholic and yet after you died, I forgot those lines of a prayer both you and I learned early in our lives.

Kevin, I am sorry it took so long. Where ever you are, I hope you are at peace with your family. I hope you felt my sincerity and can forgive me for my behavior. I will not forget you.

Rest in God's Heaven. .

Larry