South Lakes High School

Jason Kasper

I will always remember you laughing, cracking jokes making everyone laugh. You took up a higher cause and sacrificed more then most people would have. God bless brother, see you in the next life.

Nneka Head Williams

You were always a joy to be around! You had a great sense of humor and an very kind heart. Your wife and children are beautiful! You are always in our hearts and prayers.

Aaron Taylor

Tavon,
Big dog, Warrior, Hero, Wild Man, leather neck, DEVIL DOG.... Need I say more? Many people reading this and seeing your face on here will never truly know, they will never truly understand why you paid the ultimate sacrifice. They will question, and they will talk. But they will stand in awe, and live under the blanket of freedom that you have provided.

I know. I hear you, and I still hear them. We all live with it and we all keep going, knowing it could have been us, wondering why we are still alive. You left before us, you are my hero. Like many others who have left us in an untimely manner, I will remember…. I cannot forget… My dreams won’t allow it, the demons still scream, they always will. But it wasnt the demons who took you, demons can't touch warriors, only the Lord can.... It was time for you to be with the Lord, why, we will never know. The demons, the nightmares the memories that most couldnt handle have no place in your life now. You have walked with darkness, now you walk with the light... If only the warriors still here could see the light, but until that day we will keep the darkness at bay.

Rest easy Devil Dog and enjoy the peace.

Sorry for not attending the funeral, I can’t handle them.(I know you know this) Way to many funerals lately, way too many warriors moving on. Your kids will know their daddy is (not was) an amazing man, an American hero and a true warrior in every sense. Your wife and kids know this, just as we all know this.

I can remember the day the two of us got into a fight at school with some knucklehead… I remember both us running out, laughing, jumping in my car and leaving.

Who would have thought the two us would come so far, do so much, see the world, help so many people in need, touch so many lives..

And yes, take some lives, OOHRAHH (bad guys need to die)

Tavon, you have made the world a different place, you have brought great honor to yourself, your family, your country and the United States Marine Corps.

Rest easy brother, we got this, we are winning, we will carry on, and we will see you soon….. God Speed.


To anyone taking the time to read this:

Life comes short and goes away in the blink of eye. Live life for today, make friends, enjoy your family, don’t hold a grudge… live life to the fullest, travel the world, help people, give back in whatever way you can.

We can all compare our successes, the house we have, the car we drive, our 401/457’s. All the BS that means nothing.

In my opinion Tavon moved on the best way one can, he moved on as a hero, he moved on knowing that he has done his best and he has changed lives. Everyone has this opportunity on large and small scales, do something in the memory of Tavon and many more like him, get involved – give back.

Support your troops. Support the Wounded Warrior Project.

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Aaron Taylor

Heroes in Heaven
by Janet A. Norwood

Heaven’s full of heroes
who sacrificed their lives
in service to our Country
so that Liberty survives.

Uniforms of blue or gray,
khaki or olive green;
skin of every color;
young and old and in between.

They fought in many places –
spanning history and time.
Flags wave in their honor still;
in tribute, church bells chime.

In cornfields of America
or on Europe’s distant shore;
Pacific island paradise
or Chosin Reservoir.

In blowing desert sands,
or in jungles’ stifling heat,
on Navy ships or in the air,
or Fallujah’s dusty streets.

It doesn’t matter where they fell
or if we know each name.
What matters is to know that
when their Nation called, they came.

Grateful for their service,
for the precious blood they spilled;
for their sacrifice and courage,
and the duty they fulfilled.

Yes, heaven’s full of heroes –
now part of history.
We treasure what they gave to us –
The Gift of Liberty.

Aaron Taylor

Hey hard dog, was thinking about you. Continue to enjoy your leave and rest easy...

The Debriefing…
by Officer Samuel Jeppsen

“How are you? It’s good to see you, even though it’s late.
I saw what happened, so I thought I’d meet you at The Gate.
I can see you have several questions you want to ask of Me.
Like, what happened, why you, and what about your family.
There is a lot you won’t be able to understand right away.
So you’ll have to trust Me and take solace in what I say.

It’s no surprise you are here, you’ve been called home for a reason.
The loved ones you left behind will be with you again in a season.
It was all part of the plan, you know, that you chose to be one to fight.
You were called from the beginning to protect others with your might.

You see, I warned everyone of evil, and that evil was very cunning.
I warned the others to turn away, to hurry and leave running.
But if everyone turned away and from evil they ran,
then evil would rule because they’d know they can.

So I had to ask some of you to run not. But instead, stay and fight.
This, that evil be stayed, even turn and take flight.
I asked you few to do your duty, be fair and don’t make the mistake
of becoming cynical or callous; though it is one many did make.

I told you, few would understand the call to duty I put in you,
and most would question your values and your love of family too.
I told you some of you would fall and to take no worry of that.
That I’d take care of you and your families where’re they’re at.

I’m aware that your death there; tears at the hearts of your family,
but trust Me, they’ll receive love and peace from Me personally.
Your children will be watched over, I’ll take care of them too.
And in time they’ll understand what it was I asked of you.

That you be one of those to take up the sword and protect the rest.
That you were chosen because you were among My bravest and best.
Yes, though I asked the others to run from evil with all their might,
I thank you …for being one who was willing stay the line and fight.”

Dedicated to the Families and Friends of Those
Who Have Lost Loved Ones Serving Our Country
and The Cause of Freedom and Justice for All.

God Bless You, …Always.

Inspired by the day to day falling of our troops
who are trying to give the mothers, their children
and grandchildren of Afganistan and Iraq: freedom.

Aaron Taylor

One more for ya... We got the hunt now brother...



The Sheepdogs
by: Russ Vaughn
2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66

Most humans truly are like sheep
Wanting nothing more than peace to keep
To graze, grow fat and raise their young,
Sweet taste of clover on the tongue.
Their lives serene upon Life’s farm,
They sense no threat nor fear no harm.
On verdant meadows, they forage free
With naught to fear, with naught to flee.
They pay their sheepdogs little heed
For there is no threat; there is no need.

To the flock, sheepdog’s are mysteries,
Roaming watchful round the peripheries.
These fang-toothed creatures bark, they roar
With the fetid reek of the carnivore,
Too like the wolf of legends told,
To be amongst our docile fold.
Who needs sheepdogs? What good are they?
They have no use, not in this day.
Lock them away, out of our sight
We have no need of their fierce might.

But sudden in their midst a beast
Has come to kill, has come to feast
The wolves attack; they give no warning
Upon that calm September morning
They slash and kill with frenzied glee
Their passive helpless enemy
Who had no clue the wolves were there
Far roaming from their Eastern lair.
Then from the carnage, from the rout,
Comes the cry, “Turn the sheepdogs out!”

Thus is our nature but too our plight
To keep our dogs on leashes tight
And live a life of illusive bliss
Hearing not the beast, his growl, his hiss.
Until he has us by the throat,
We pay no heed; we take no note.
Not until he strikes us at our core
Will we unleash the Dogs of War
Only having felt the wolf pack’s wrath
Do we loose the sheepdogs on its path.

And the wolves will learn what we’ve shown before;
We love our sheep, we Dogs of War.