Today is 4 weeks since my son was KIA, but it feels like an eternity. On 5/24/2010 my life was forever changed. I will never forget that day or how we got the news. Roy & I were having a nice night. It was aMonday evening and we had already eaten dinner. We were upstairs when Beth 1st called. I missed 3 of her calls before she left a message telling me to call her right away. She was crying.

Roy was on the house phone, so I kept going outside to call. I called her & Heather - no one picked up. Roy got off the phone and asked me what was wrong and I told him I just received a tearful voicemail from Beth. His response was to lets go down there now. My rock was in worry mode. This was not a good sign, yet I tried to stay calm.

As soon as we got to Heathers house I saw the official plate on the care and mentioned that to Roy, who says, he doesn't know why, but he tried to protect me by saying "not it's not", even though he realized I would know the trust in just 3 steps.

In that brief moment I said a quick prayer, hoping to God that my son was injured. Alive. Please be alive.

When Beth answered the door she didn't say a word. Heather was on the floor, sobbing, her father and sister comforting her, but crying with her. 2 uniformed soldiers stood silently in front of the fireplace, one fighting his own tears.

I'm not sure if I asked if he was alive or dea, but they made me sit down and confirmed my relationship to Christopher. Then the Sgt proceeded to tell me this story: My son was on a mission. As they were finishing up they came under fire. Christopher had been shot and died as a result of his injuries.

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Why wasn't Roy making him stop talking? How could this be happening?? I had to get to Cory. he was at work and he had to hear this from me.

I retold the tale to Cory behind the mall where he works.

Beth left her voicemail for me at 7:51 pm and by 9:15 that evening I was on my way home, calling my sisters to tell them that my son was KIA.

In little more than an hour and a half my world would forever change and will never be the same again.