It has been 18 years since I last heard my precious son’s voice. I told him I would pick him up at the airport as usual and was excited to see him. We shared “Love you…see you soon” and hung up. I was at the airport to greet Seth but I did not meet him in the usual place. He and 18 of his Marine brothers were killed when the MV-22 Osprey aircraft they were riding in crashed in the Arizona desert, killing all on board. My family and I were escorted to a different area of the airport and waited. Seth’s plane arrived but instead of running to greet him at the door, we had to watch his casket come out of the belly of the plane. We were then taken to another area where I was finally able to touch my new reality as I threw myself over his casket and wailed to the heavens all the grief I did not know could possibly exist. It was the most horrible day of my life as I realized I would never again hold, hug, laugh with or share one more moment of life with my precious child ever again. Today is his birthday. He would be 37 years old. I am left with his memories and they are more precious than gold. He loved hockey and his home jersey is framed and hanging in my home. His away jersey is in the casket with him, along with his precious Ewok, who went everywhere in Seth’s big red backpack. I ran into his preschool teacher a few months later and the first thing she asked was, “Where is his Ewok.” I replied, “In his casket with him, snuggled on his pillow.” “As it should be,” was her response and she turned and walked away, so full of grief. His was a life well lived and we are grateful he lived it with us. We will never forget him. We miss you Seth, forever and always.

In loving memory

LCpl Seth Garrett Jones
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines
1st Marine Division
India Company
Weapons Platoon
Get Some

With love,
Michele Fentriss-Jones