Every year, on the last Monday in May, our nation takes a sacred pause to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States. Their sacrifices echo through generations, reminding us that the freedoms we enjoy are not free—they were paid for with lives marked by courage, conviction, and selflessness.

Our fallen heroes are more than just names on a wall. They’re sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends. Each one carried a story, a life filled with laughter, nicknames, quirks, quiet strength, and everyday moments that meant everything to someone. This day is about honoring not only how they died, but how they lived.

This year, we asked the GiveSendGo community to help us remember. To share stories of their loved ones who gave everything—some on the battlefield, others in unseen battles long after they came home.

Today, we tell their stories. We speak their names. And we honor their lives by remembering.

Lance “Bo” Chavez

“My big brother was always my hero. He always made sure as his little sister I felt proud of myself and protected. He took that a step further when he joined the USMC to give his time to his country. He always took pride in being a Marine and was lucky to be stationed in our home of Hawaii for part of his duties. He spread aloha to all who he met and made sure all around him knew how much he loved them.

We now know that his smile was his way of hiding his pain. His laugh was his way to get through the days. In 2022, we lost my brother to his battle with PTSD. We now make it our mission as a family to spread his story and his aloha to those around us so that his memory lives on.

We have established our nonprofit organization, the L;ve Aloha Foundation, to share his legacy and hope to help other veterans fighting with their mental health and their families. They all made the ultimate sacrifice for us, so we hope to just scrape the surface of returning that with our aloha.

Happy Memorial Day to all our heroes here and in Heaven. HOORAHHH!”

SFC Andrew Niles Crabtree, US Army

“Andrew Crabtree was an Army Special Forces Medic assigned to a dive team in 5th Special Forces Group. Only two years after being assigned, he was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma.

Although it was not the fight he signed up for, he fought it with faith and grace. He used his sickness as a platform to share the gospel with people around him. He wanted everything about the time he had left of his life to point to the hope of eternity with Jesus Christ."

James Edward Marshall PFC

“James was a great childhood friend of mine. We hung around and would play basketball and spent time playing pool. James and I would stop by his aunt's house at times to check on her as she was blind. He always checked to see if she needed anything from the store or help doing chores.

James drove an ice cream truck and would stop by our home at least twice a week and give me some ice cream that was left over from work. I remember one night he stopped by and told me that he would not be stopping by anymore as he had been drafted into the Marines.

I never saw James after that night. He was the brother that I always wanted, as my real brothers were much older. In 1968, I was told that James had been killed in action in Vietnam. I have never gotten over his death and still think of him all the time. I will never forget my dear friend James. His death inspired me to enlist into the Marine Corps in 1968 at 17 years old.

I know the true meaning of Semper Fi. I will always remember.”

Capt. Robert Calvin Wiley, US Army

“My great-grandfather was KIA in St. Lo, France, 14 Aug 1944, leading his Western PA National Guard unit into post-Normandy. Wounded by small arms and machine gun fire, he stayed in the fight and reorganized his men multiple times for a week until killed by sniper fire.

Distinguished Service Cross. Purple Heart. He had been a high school teacher, football and wrestling coach in Greene County, PA.”

SSgt Scott Sather, USAF

"Combat Controller. Killed by friendly fire 8 APR 2003."

LtCol Peter Scott Hagis, USAF

"I met Pete when we started at the Air Force Academy in 1987. He was a skinny kid from Philly who everybody could be friends with. We had the same sponsor in town and hung out there whenever we could get off base to relax and get away. Pete loved motorcycles, which were outlawed for cadets, but that didn't stop him from riding! After graduating in 1991, we went off to pilot training in Mississippi together. He was part owner of an old boat we took out to the river on the weekends. Pete loved to kneeboard. I remember launching him (and the boat) up off the wake of a small yacht that motored by, sending him 12–15 ft up off the water. Good thing he let go of the rope! After we crashed back down to the water and circled back to pick Pete up, he was laughing harder than I ever saw. He said the boat was so high up he could see the propeller spinning as the boat went flying!

He went on to fly C-130 cargo planes all over the world and then flew special ops missions in small specialized aircraft in Iraq and other combat zones. He married a beautiful girl and had a son he named Killian. He wouldn't talk about anything he did or saw on those missions. Some of the things Pete was exposed to bothered him, but he never talked about it—even after he retired. We knew he was a great airman and hero—he earned a Bronze Star—but we still don't know the story. Pete retired as a Lt. Col. after a long, distinguished career, but ultimately he couldn't escape his memories. Basically, his life was cut short from PTSD. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

If there was one thing we would like to see come from Pete's interrupted life, it would be to encourage vets with PTSD to seek help—to talk to someone and not fight it alone. It's OK. No one goes into battle all alone, and that includes long after the smoke clears."

Lt. Col. Robert “Maj” Renz, USAF

“Robert Renz, better known to all as “Maj,” was a devout Christian and a veteran of three wars with the USAF. His service started as a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator in WWII. He became an officer and served in Korea and Vietnam—the latter where his exposure to the carcinogenic defoliant Agent Orange caused a stroke and brain tumor that led to service-related disability. He loved Jesus. His favorite dessert was strawberry shortcake. He was an American patriot and a true Texan.”

Ralph Edward Stronoski MSGT (Ret)

“My great-uncle fought in the Battle of the Bulge to help liberate Europe during World War II.”

Thomas Richard Repko, US Navy

“Our father was a true hero to spend 20 years of his life defending our country. He sacrificed a comfortable life at home to be at sea, protecting and defending our freedoms. He was loving, kind, humorous, and extremely giving. We honor him today and always, and thank God for his endurance, kindness, and love to us and many others.”

John Dunleavy, Pvt., US Army

“KIA at Argonne Forest, France, WWI, a Pvt. USA, and was 18 years old. He was my uncle.”

Col. Harold W. Christian, USAF

“Bomber Pilot, Test Pilot, Mercury Space Mission Candidate, Commandant, Aerospace Research Test Pilot School, Air Force Boeing Liaison.”

Frank Albert DePasquale, Sgt., US Army

"My father served in World War II. He was 18 when he was sent to Germany. He fought in the Battle of the Remagen Bridge. This war experience changed his life. He told me that he prayed that if he got out alive, he'd promise to make the world a better place. And did he ever. He was an artist and architect (mid-century modern), designed multiple churches, homes, corporate and educational buildings, and museums. His art adorns spaces such as the IMAX theater here in Raleigh, NC, as well as banks, offices, and homes. He was actively involved in the community and served on many boards and committees. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dearly. He truly lived the life he loved and made the world, and my life, more beautiful. I miss him every day!”

Hal Eugene Weitenhagen, US Navy

“Hal, my beloved brother, was a career US Navy man. He spent many years deployed at seas around the world. Following his return to civilian life, he suddenly died at age 49. He was buried at sea according to his wishes. Because his active duty service took him to Vietnam during that war, he was given a spot with a headstone in Arlington National Cemetery.”

Major Joseph Spencer, US Army

“Twenty years a soldier. 91 years soldiered on.”

This Memorial Day, may we not only remember these precious names but live in a way that honors the freedom they died to protect.

To the families who carry on—thank you.
To the fallen—we remember you.

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The Stories of Our Fallen Heroes: A Memorial Day Tribute

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