5k Military Memorial Fundraiser
Donation protected
In May of 2010, 1LT Eric Yates, a native of Rineyville, KY, was deployed to Afghanistan with B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. He was killed on September 18, 2010, in Kandahar, after insurgents attacked his patrol with an IED. He was only 26 years old. He left behind a letter to be read at his funeral after his death and I would like to share it with you today:
Hello to everyone in attendance,
I'm sorry that you all had to gather here today for this event--no, really I am. But since you are here I would like to take the chance to say a few things, try to impart some of my knowledge and wisdom that I have stored up over the past 26 years. I consider myself fairly cultured and worldly, so please pay attention; I have the following advice.
Number one, take a chance. Get out there and do something you wouldn't normally do. You will see and do some really cool stuff and meet some really fine and interesting people. Once an Army buddy and myself ate breakfast with a homeless man in Oklahoma City, and I must say he left an impression on me.
Number two, watch the original Star Wars trilogy. It's an amazing story.
Number three, no matter how old you are, get off the couch and exercise. You will look and feel so much better, have more energy and be happier.
Number four, read a lot books, both fiction and non-fiction, newspapers, magazines, blogs, online stories, movie reviews--all these things will help you understand the world around you, your role in it, and why what happened to me happened where and when it did.
Number five, save your money. You don't own your things; your things own you.
Number six, liquor is better than beer.
Number seven, don't reject new ideas immediately.
That seems to be all that I wanted to say, so thank you for coming. Please have a safe trip home and have a good life.
Love, Eric Yates
_________________________________________________________
All donations will go to the Eric Yates Foundation.
Hello to everyone in attendance,
I'm sorry that you all had to gather here today for this event--no, really I am. But since you are here I would like to take the chance to say a few things, try to impart some of my knowledge and wisdom that I have stored up over the past 26 years. I consider myself fairly cultured and worldly, so please pay attention; I have the following advice.
Number one, take a chance. Get out there and do something you wouldn't normally do. You will see and do some really cool stuff and meet some really fine and interesting people. Once an Army buddy and myself ate breakfast with a homeless man in Oklahoma City, and I must say he left an impression on me.
Number two, watch the original Star Wars trilogy. It's an amazing story.
Number three, no matter how old you are, get off the couch and exercise. You will look and feel so much better, have more energy and be happier.
Number four, read a lot books, both fiction and non-fiction, newspapers, magazines, blogs, online stories, movie reviews--all these things will help you understand the world around you, your role in it, and why what happened to me happened where and when it did.
Number five, save your money. You don't own your things; your things own you.
Number six, liquor is better than beer.
Number seven, don't reject new ideas immediately.
That seems to be all that I wanted to say, so thank you for coming. Please have a safe trip home and have a good life.
Love, Eric Yates
_________________________________________________________
All donations will go to the Eric Yates Foundation.
Organizer
Michael Yates
Organizer
APO, US
