Monday, July 16, 2012

A Passing.

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Albert Pike

Yesterday we found out about the passing of my brother’s brother-in-law. He was serving in the US Army in Afghanistan. He was killed by enemy fire while on patrol. He was a a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a soldier, and a hero. He sacrificed his life for the people he holds dear in his heart.

He would have been 25 on August 3rd, his family was asking friends to videotape and send birthday wishes for him. I spoke with his sister last night, after being inspired by a blog called “The Birthday Project” and we think it would be a great idea to ask his friends and family to commit 25 random acts of kindness in his memory.   We think this is appropriate because this young mad had such a kind and generous heart, we think he would approve.

I am asking for your ideas on how to present this to his other friends and for suggestions of random acts of kindness that I can give to his friends to help honor this brave young man.

 

(Please leave your positive comments below, this is not a forum for anti-war sentiment.)

19 comments:

  1. So sorry for your family's loss. I have a cousin and brother in the Marines so I know how this feels for everyone involved. Have you heard of Operation Beautiful. I contribute from time to time and think it is a great way to leave random acts of kindness around you through such a positive and uplifting message. Perhaps someone can do that and photograph the places the notes are left. I'm about to do this before moving from Boston as a kind of final farewell to the city. - Katy

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    1. I think kind post it notes are a fantastic idea, thank you, although he had a penchant for "naughty" t-shirts, maybe I should visit a bar and leave some of those there. :)

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  2. So sorry for your family's loss. You could always create a hashtag asking ppl to do random acts of kindness in his memory and tweet it out with that hashtag. We're currently doing a Pay it forward idea like this with #PayItForwardExpress to help others if you'd like to see an example.
    Whirlwind of Surprises

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    1. A hashtag is a good idea, it might actually go really well with the post it idea. Thanks.

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  3. My condolences on your family's tragic loss. I love the RAK idea to pay tribute to his memory and ultimate sacrifice. God Bless.

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  4. I'm so sorry for your loss. I loved the Birthday Project, and that she included her whole family in it. As a mother, my suggestion would to ask the children for ideas. Children come up with great ideas, and it makes it that much better when they have an idea of their own to implement!

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  5. OMG - so sorry for your loss. How about a slide show sowing random acts of kindness and at the end asking to do same

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    1. That is a good idea, maybe our families can get together and do a few in advance to give ideas to others. Thank you.

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  6. So so sorry for your family's loss!
    Random Acts of Kindness.
    Anything veteran related, veteran hospital related, put flowers on grave.

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    1. I think it is a good idea to do things veteran related, I do them often because my brother is active duty Army, but I think doing them in honor of someone is a great idea. Thank you.

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  7. I'm so sorry for your loss. My best friend is about to go on his third tour and I am all too familiar with the emotions that brings. I agree with the above posters - random acts of kindness show people that the world still cares.

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  8. My best guy friend just came home from his 6th tour. I am always sad to hear when someone doesnt. The world is a mess. Its up to each and everyone of us to try to clean it up. Be nicer, better friends, better moms, better dads, better siblings... If we are able to do some good, we have an obligation to do it.

    Help make a few rounds with Meals on Wheels, or a soup kitchen, beach clean up, help a struggling family pay a bill, buy someone a few bucks in gas...

    My best friend Jennee was driving through Illinois and got a flat. As she was getting it fixed a woman and a boy came into the station. They said hi, paid for their stuff then left. When Jennee went to pay for her fixed tire - she was told the woman paid half her bill!

    I like to pay for old peoples food in a restaurant. I always scout a few, ask how much their bills are, and pay as much as I can!

    Hugs, and good luck with this great project!

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    1. Those are all great ideas to pass along, thank you so much.

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  9. I am so very sorry! I also love the idea of paying tribute- maybe doing a slide show for his family. Hugs!!

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  10. I am so sorry for your entire family's loss. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

    I like the idea of doing acts of kindness in his memory. Maybe set up a website in his memory with a list of different things people can do. And then put a counter on the page so that when people do an act everyone can see.

    You could also set up a facebook page and do it that way with everyone leaving messages and telling others about their act of kindness.

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    1. That is a really good idea, maybe I will make a facebook page so that people can post pictures and descriptions of the acts that they did. Thank you.

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  11. I am very sorry for your loss. I like that you are doing acts of kindness in memory of him. I also love the quote at the beginning of your post. I love the idea of putting a counter on the post. I think that would be a great way to count the acts of kindness to let your readers see it and maybe want to pass it forward.

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  12. i am very sorry and a warm thank you for what he did for country and his family

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  13. I would like to add my condolences to the others that you have received. I think random acts of kindness are a wonderful way to honor his memory. I think the Facebook idea mentioned above would be a great way to have a "call to action" and let other people share in this.

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