Happy 41st Birthday Gary

It's hard to believe another birthday is here. It is always a bitter sweet day, but I know each one of us who love you, while at the same time missing you, are celebrating the beautiful life you lived and what you meant to each of us individually. You did live your life to the fullest and blessed every one of us.  Even though you accomplished so much, it was always people that were most important to you. You made sure those in your life knew they mattered--both to you and as individuals--and what a difference this made to so many lives, including my own. Thank you for this. Thank you for sharing your life, your friendship, your spirit. Happy 41st Birthday to you Gary.

Elizabeth

Happy Birthday Slim

We visited today;

John, Katherine and me, to wish you a Happy Birthday.

Rosecrans is such a beautiful place and being with the kids makes it easier. They love visiting you and the questions they ask always amaze me and make me smile.

I imagine you are smiling when you hear them too! And likely thinking up some smart-alec answer that I would end up having to explain!

We all love you, miss you and think of you every day.

Happy Birthday my friend.

Love

Tammy

Happy Birthday Gary

Happy Birthday Gary. If you taught us all one thing it was to be happy with what we have and what we are doing. There is a soldier in my church that has been in Iraq. He has been at church for the last couple Sundays. To see him with the two small children that were with him reminds me that we all have something for which to be thankful. Not knowing the soldier, I would assume being home for Christmas has to be a blessing.

Gary and his birthday reminds me that we all need to live, love and enjoy the time that we have with the people that mean the most. I will always remember Gary and the time I did spend with him, which looking back I always wish was more. He was an important person in many people's lives. He was a friend, brother, son, officer and he would have been a great father too I'm sure even though his time on earth must not have been meant for that.

One thing I think we can all do on his birthday is remember Gary's life. Birthday's are meant for celebrating life, not death, so even though it is a difficult day for those close to him, maybe we can remember all the good things and smile a little through the tears.

Happy Birthday Gary!

What makes it so happy

Without you here, "Happy" Birthday tomorrow seems like the wrong thing to say, but when I think about all the happy times we had, it DOES seem appropriate, in its own way. I remember how happy we were to get 24 hours off on the weekend at Officer Candidate School and how happier still to be graduating. Bar hopping in Columbia, crashing on the floor in the OSO's office, how you learned how to water ski in like 15 minutes. Happy to finish a 5-mile run across the levees at Clemson, or atop the hill in beautiful Laguna Beach. I remember how happy I was to get a phone call from you because we sure as hell didn't make those calls frequently enough. I was always happy to know how in synch we were with our lives even if we were apart.



I was glad to know you were getting happy again, I could tell it in your voice the last time we talked. And I can't help but believe that you are happy wherever you are now and that someday we will be reunited and the happy days will resume.



You would love my new puppy, he's pretty fierce, he's friendly, everyone loves him, but he's aggressive and not afraid of anything. Many times I've wished you could meet him. So here's a pic...

Gary, I wanted to make a post on Veteran's Day because on days like this I want you to be reminded that you are our Hero. Have been thinking of you all day, feeling proud of how you served our country but also wishing so intensely that you were still here. I was thinking about the time you helped me write a paper for school on honoring our veterans and how much I learned from listening to your own personal perspective. I remember thinking how wonderful a process it turned out to be, I started with an academic assignment but ended up with something  that ultimately was very personal, meaningful and concluded with a better understanding of the honor that is due to our serviceman.  I learned a great deal from you in our relatively short period of time. You taught me about forgiveness (deserved or not, you gave it), about humility (honest humility--even though you were the most amazing man I had ever met), about selflessness (always, always thinking of other people and other people's needs), about compassion (you had the biggest heart), about tolerance (I never heard you judge someone else and your example kept me in check) and of course, about living life with steadfast dedication and full ambition (your dedication and ambition to excellence in life remains to this day my biggest inspiration). Anyone who knows you would say "Yep, you must be talking about Gary!". It goes without saying that the life you led is a living example of those virtues I strive to imitate. I hope you know the gifts you gave to us while you were here. And how I miss you more than ever. 

Here's to you on Veteran's Day!

Elizabeth Hansson

getting old

Gary - miss you. Was just thinking about you and how much you meant and still mean to me. you've got a birthday coming up. 41. Wow. You bastard, you'll never get old fat bald or gray. You'll always be the young physically fit prophet of mass in our minds. Hey, wherever you are, don't push them too hard. Not everyone can be a Marine. But I do expect pefect PT scores by the time I get there.
S/F
Rich

From Gary's roommate at Quantico...

I was just talking to an old Marine Corps buddy and I got to wondering how other friends from my days in the Corps were doing. I did search on Gary and was shocked and saddened to read about his death.

Gary was my roommate at the Basic School. He was a great friend and motivator. I was introduced to his family during our training in Quantico when he and I took a trip to Spartanburg. His father and brother (I don’t remember which brother) made sure we felt at home when we were awoken with a live rendition of Revelry. I regret loosing touch with Gary over the many years and feel for his family.

I last saw Gary at Camp Pendleton when he came to visit his friend Rich Merritt, then serving at 3d LAAD Battalion. He was now an official aviator in the United States Marine Corp. I’m glad he was able to fulfill his dream. You couldn’t help but feel good for him and I knew the Marine Corps got a good man to fly fighters for them.

God bless and Semper Fidelis Gary. Thank you for being a friend.

Patrick GallagherCaptain, USMC
August 27, 2008 2:37 PM

On my mind...

Gary you have been on my mind and heart all week. It's peculiar how without even looking at the calendar we know the date by what is etched in our hearts. I look to the sky often, knowing you continue to soar above us and know one day we will meet again. You are loved and missed.

Carolyn

Gary,

Yesterday was Memorial Day. I think of your everyday.  I miss you everyday.  I thank God for you and for the life you lived and the joy you gave to me and to each person you interacted with.  But yesterday I thought of you-- The Marine, The Soldier, the ultimate sacrifice you gave to our country.  You loved this country, you were genuinely patriotic and so proud to serve.  We are honored, this entire Nation, your family, your friends who love you dearly, are honored and humbled by the years of service and the passion and dedication you served with until the last moment.   And now you live on, in another form, but just as much in my heart and each day in my memory. 

Thank you, Gary, for loving our country, for loving what you did, for protecting our freedom and serving with such honor. I am so proud to know you, Major Gary Robert Fullerton USMC.

Elizabeth Hansson