Jonathan Rossi, We Will Miss You
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Many thanks to the wonderful people at Patriot Guard.
This weekend I received a call from Mike Rossi, Jonathan’s father. He was hard to understand but finely I heard the words “He’s dead. Jonathan’s dead.” Then the phone disconnected.
Jon Rossi was my childrens’ stepbrother. He was a quiet, unassuming young man with both the talent and a passion for art. He drew a couple of pictures for me, which I have in a file in my desk at the office.
Jon was the kind of young man who wasn’t easy to anger, nor fast in making a decision of importance. He thought things through before making a decision. He only had friends… you either were a friend or you weren’t. He didn’t bother with acquaintances.
John knew for a long time that he would join the military. He wanted to travel, see the world, be his own man. I remember when he started running and working out, months before basic training. He told me that he knew it would be hard, but that he was going to prepare his body for the rigors of training and, eventually, combat.
Jon wanted to be an Army Ranger, and made it through the first couple of levels. He had to set the dream aside for a while after injuring his knee during a jump, but he didn’t let it bother him. He continued training to be the best he could be, and was deployed to Iraq in September of 2006.
Jon was very close with my two oldest children, Matthew and Kaitlin. He spoke often of them, and especially Kaitlin, as well as his father and brother Jason. He had recently found the love of his life, a beautiful young redhead with a golden heart, and was planning to ask her to marry him when his unit returned in January 2008.
Jonathan knew the risks and challenges he faced but never shied away from them. He had tattoos on his arms that, when crossed, said “To win you have to be willing to die.”
Jon, I want you to know you live in our hearts forever, and dedicate this song by Edwin McCain, which I tried to sing to you at the candlelight vigil we held for you on July 4th, 2007. I couldn’t finish the song, so I am posting it here on my blog so when anyone reads this they know what I was trying to say.
Let them in, Peter For they are very tired Give them couches where the angels sleep And light those fires Let them wake whole again To brand new dawns Fired by the sun Not wartime's bloody guns And may their peace be deep Remember where the broken bodies lie God knows how young they were to have to die Well, God knows how young they were to have to die Give them things they like Let them make some noise Give dance hall bands not golden harps To these our boys And let them love, Peter For they've had no time They should have bird songs and trees And hills to climb The taste of summer And a ripened pear And girls sweet as meadow wind And flowing hair And tell them how they are missed But say not to fear It's gonna be all right With us down here
Please, if you read this, say a prayer for Jonathan and his family, as he will be sorely missed.
[tags]Iraq,war,Jonathan Rossi, Edwin McCain, Prayer to Saint Peter[/tags]
3 Comments
Dolores Rossi Jessee
July 7th, 2007
at 7:23pm
I am Jonathan’s aunt, and the sister of Michael Rossi, Jon’s father. You have said the most beautiful words and expressed Jonathan’s character in the most exact and poinent way. You hit the nail on the head brother, and your kids are welcome and have always been in the Rossi household. They well behaved, well mannered and loving children. Some time ago we made a video of our family for our father and mother on their 50th anniversary. Your kids were included in the number of grandchildren our parents have. Thank you for your tribute to my nephew. He will always be in my heart.
Vincent and Gail Rossi
July 14th, 2007
at 8:33pm
Dear brave Jonathan:
We are honoroed to share your name.
We never knew you, but our hearts are broken when we see your picture, and our hearts are broken for your family and those who love you.
May the angels lead you to Paradise,
May Christ’s martyrs come to welcome you,
and take you to the Holy City,
to the New and Eternal Jerusalem, our true Home.
Wait there for your family and the many who love you.
The Rossi’s—Palm Harbor, Florida.
ellie
November 2nd, 2007
at 6:09pm
If you have family who die in war it helps to remember that they died in the blades of glory and that they saved lives and they were brave and strong and if there was one way to die in this life, it would be by saving someone else’s. So God bless our troops, or whoever is up there, bless our troops. When you look at Jonathon’s picture, don’t think about your lose, think about his gain: he’s out of his suffering and he’s is getting what he deserves up in heaven.