The Stories of Our Fallen Heroes: A Memorial Day Tribute
By: Alex Shipley on | Comments: 0Our 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."
PFC James Edward Marshall, USMC
“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."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.