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