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...