It seems like the circles of love just keep expanding, and the ripple effect gets greater as it touches more and more people…Ohhh, that the entire world would come together in the way you all have during this sorrowful time…and then pain and devastation, hatred and death could cease…

The past 20 days have gone by so fast, and so slow…one day blurs into the next, I blink and a week has gone by…Every emotion has been mine. Unbelief and deep sadness are the two I feel the most…Intense pride and the honor I feel, are also very close…

In the midst of all of this, I remember that I have two other sons who need me and my love…we all hold each other often. We remember what our family is about. We talk about how we have been strong through so many hard things before…This is certainly the hardest…We remind each other that we will honor Seth and his memory, and continue to love life and each other…We know that we will never forget the value of life…We know that we will never take for granted the love of those we care about and that care about us…We realize that each day we have is precious…a gift. That’s not to say that things are all peachy and rosy…hardly…but we are working through this together and I am so glad that I have my sons for their strength and love…My family and close friends continue to be pillars of strength…

And I am so thankful to all of you for your generous love…you have proved over and over that you are there, that you care, that you share in this with me…Â

This email is going to over 120 people…I stopped counting after that…and I know that I haven’t included everyone, because I didn’t know all the email addresses…but to you who receive this: My heart, my family, my life is richer because of you…

(I have included a “blog” from myspace…it’s a letter from the Chaplain who was with Seth until he took his final breath…)

I love you all…Anna

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The following letter was sent to me by the Chaplain who was with Seth in Iraq…You can feel the heartbeat of this man in his writing…His words brought some comfort to me, and I hope they will to you as well…

22 Dec 2006

Dear Anna,

It is with profound sorrow that I extend my deepest sympathy to you in the recent death of your son, Seth. I was the Chaplain on duty when Seth died here in the Intensive Care Unit at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Our doctors did everything within their power to save his life but unfortunately his injuries were too severe.

I just wanted to let you know that I was there with him, praying for him, as well as his family, while holding his hand right up to the very end. He was never alone.

With deepest sympathies I hope that your fond memories of Seth will give you comfort through this difficult time.

God Bless, Gary

Chaplain, Capt. Cary Coburn, USAF