IGTNT: Dawn or Dusk?

they will always be young
they will always be beautiful
they will be in our hearts
they have become part of our souls
we will carry them with us always
and meet in the fullness of time.

In the fullness of time.  In the fullness of time where we will meet the truth of human existence.  

In the fullness of time where the questions will be answered.

In the fullness of time where the circle closes and begins again.

In the fullness of time there are dawns and dusks of existence

Dawn and dusk...they look very alike

Only in the fullness of time will we learn in which we lived.

Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio, Texas
From:  My San Antonio

When Fernando Santos entered Adonia Santos' life, she knew him as the younger boy who lived across the street and liked to laze around with her brothers.

In his wife's words,"He was just this tall, scrawny, nerdy little kid who came around to hang out with my brothers."

The couple had four children.  In February, Sgt. Santos had been home with his family for two weeks to witness the birth of the his youngest child christened Victor.  

Adonia and Fernando were planning on renewing their wedding vows upon his return.  This was Sgt. Santos' second tour in Iraq which had been scheduled to end in June, but had been extended until October.

Spc. Cristian Rojas-Gallego, 24, of Loganville, Georgia
From:  Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rojas-Gallegos was a former marine who joined the US Army because, according to his brother, Eduardo Rojas, "he feared he could not support his growing family on odd jobs".

Odd jobs were all Rojas-Gallegos could find after leaving the US Marine Corps and serving three earlier tours in Iraq.

Rojas-Gallego's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Spc. Erid D. Salinas, 25, Primera, Texas
From: Valley Morning Star

According to his aunt Gracie DeLeon, interviewed by the Valley Morning Star newspaper by telephone

We don't know the details.  They triggered an underground bomb...an IED

Spc. Salinas was born in Harlingen, Texas, and moved to Houston with
his mother when he was 9 years old.  

His tour of duty was scheduled to end in September, three days before his 26th birthday according to Ms. DeLeon.  

He leaves behind a 4 year old son.

Spc. Braden J. Long, 19,of Sherman, Texas

Died of injuries sustaned when his humvee came under grenade attack.  

He was a cavalry scout assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry

Regiment, 4th Infantry Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division.  Spc. Long

was the 120th Fort Riley, Kansas soldier to be killed in Iraq.

Little is being reported about this too soon taken young man.  Spc. Long's memorial here will be updated as information becomes available.  

We grieve with his family, rest easy young man, rest easy this son of
Texas.

Master Sgt. Julian Ingles Rios, 52, of Anasco, Puerto Rico

Little information regarding Master Sgt. Rios is available but his age brings this to mind:

"...old soldiers never die, they just fade away..."  [quoted by General Douglas MacArthur in his farewell speech to a joint session of Congress on April 19, 1951.  The General in turn was quoting a popular barracks ballad of his West Point days.]

Master Sgt. Julian Ingles Rios was too young to fade away, but, neither will we  allow our memory of his service to the United States of America to fade.  

Staff Sgt. Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio, Texas
Spc. Cristian Rojas-Gallego, 24, of Loganville, Ga.
Spc. Eric D. Salinas, 25, of Houston, Texas
Master Sgt. Julian Ingles Rios, 52, of Anasco, Puerto Rico
Spc. Braden J. Long, 19, of Sherman, Texas

To date the total number of American casualties, according to the US Department of Defense totals:  3,654.  Information obtained from Icasualties.org

To support our military service members and veterans, please visit AnySoldier.com and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

About the IGTNT series:

IGTNT stands for "I Got the News Today."  The phrase most likely refers to the Beatles song, and it is meant to symbolize that terrible knock on the door that any number of families got today, bringing with it the news that a loved one has died. IGTNT is a diary series intended to honor, respect and remind.

The IGTNTseries, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, silvercedes, MsWings, blue jersey mom, chacounne, Worried Dem, twilight falling, Wee Mama, sheddhead, moneysmith, greenies and me, labwitchy.

If you would like to help out with IGTNT -- even once a month -- please get in touch with silvercedes, Sandy on Signal, noweasels ormonkeybiz.