Remembering Alex.....

On Memorial Day 2006, my cousin Jennifer lost her husband, Alex Funkhouser while he was escorting Kimberly Dozier, a CBS news reporter and her crew into Baghdad. A car bomb took his life, along with two other CBS journalists that day, also severely injuring Miss Dozier and others in the crew. When Jennifer answered her door that day, she said "I opened the door and I looked directly into the Major's eyes and they were red," she recalls. "And he said, 'I'm sorry to inform you…'"

My heart aches everytime I think of her in that moment... reeling from the grief that has so suddenly been thrust upon her heart, and at the same time wondering how she is going to tell her two daughers, Kaitlyn and Allison who were only 4 and 2 at the time. Because Alex was killed alongside the CBS News Reporters, his death got more news coverage than other soldier's who have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq. However, I remember Jennifer saying that EVERY soldier should get the same attention as Alex did.....

So.. on this Memorial Day, please take a few minutes from your parties and BBQ'S to remember ALL the soldiers who have given their lives for our great country and that are no longer with us. Also, take a minute to watch this beautiful video called "18 video tapes". Kaitlyn and Allison are in it towards the beginning, and then at the end, after the music stops, you will see Alex saying good-bye to Jennifer (she's behind the camera)and Kate and Allie....