21, of Winter Park, Fla.
assigned to A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, based in Armstrong Barracks, Germany; killed Nov. 22 when a tank collided with his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq.
The same day she learned of her husband’s death in Iraq, Jill Roberts received three cards in the mail from him, two of them for their 3-year-old son, Jacob. In one card, Robert Roberts told his son to “take care of Mommy until Daddy gets home.” “Bobby went into the Army to be sure he could provide for his son, and he always did provide for us,” Jill Roberts said. Spc. Roberts, 21, of Winter Park, Fla., died Nov. 22 when his vehicle was crushed by a tank during a night mission in Baghdad. His unit had been based in Hanau, Germany, before being sent to Iraq. Roberts played high school football, and worked at an Italian restaurant and as a carpenter before enlisting. His brother returned home from serving in Iraq in August. “We want him remembered as the hero he was,” said Jill Roberts, 20. “He was very proud of the job he was doing.”
Anonymous
2 years ago
It would be nice if this roll call had more of a feeling of an reverent “thank you” than a trite political middle finger.
Nah. That would require an admission that someone volunteered to sacrifice their life so you could have the freedom to backhandedly mock their deaths.
That would be too much to ask.
wifey
2 years ago
When you are going to be an ass leave you name.
This is a good thing and should not have rude comments. Where is Merediths comment?
tiny...
2 years ago
What the…
Isn’t it just bizarre when people make up their own realities and then are outraged by them?
tommy
2 years ago
Wow….
I don’t mean it as a “political middle finger” (although some may use it that way). There is certainly no intent to mock anyone, or the price they pay for what they do for you and I (although apparently some will see it that way). And to be honest, it’s not meant to be a thank you to these heroes, either (although I’m sure some do think of it that way).
I simply got tired of reading about the deaths in the news, and hearing / seeing very little public reaction.
I want to show that these great heroes were real people with real lives. The paperboy. The pizza delivery kid. Your neighbors. Your friends. That is my intent.
I’m truly sorry that some are offended, but I do not plan to stop.
Anonymous: if you like, I would be happy to help you start a blog, where you will be free to create a space that honors these troops in a manner you see fit. Contact me, and I’ll get you up and running by the weekend.
Meredith
2 years ago
“If their song is to continue, then we must do the singing.”
We have to find that special way that will allow us
to sing our loved one’s song loud and clear . . .
- Elaine Stillwell
gar
2 years ago
“Middle Finger”? Whatever anonahole! I am giving Tommy the “Non-political thumbs up”. Try re-reading the posts and let us know where a political statement was made.