Contributions by Elizabeth Rozier

This past month my sister-in-law remarried. She and my brother met at Texas A&M and married the week following graduation.

In honor of summer, the best time of childhood, here's a few memories of Jonathan.

I am releasing those things in my heart, choosing to give my heart to joy and happiness.

This week is Jon's 35th birthday and the 10th anniversary of the day he died. Yes, all in the same week.

I probably always will with each new life transition, but I will treasure the gift of friendship I now have with Ben & Josh.

As I turn one more year older, I recognize that I have had one more year without my brother, one more year of healing, one more year to tell my story.

I can smile at the new outlook on life that his life and death have given me.

I worry sometimes that I will forget you. You have the other half of my childhood memories.

A bucket list item that probably only a TAPS audience will appreciate was to visit "the spot" where my brother died.

Lo and behold my own destiny was waiting patiently for healing to progress to the point where it could awaken again

This is the toughest week of my year. Yesterday was Jonathan’s birthday and Thursday is the anniversary of his death.

Love never dies; the impact is far reaching and everlasting. It's probably the single most positive emotions that exists.

This portrait was the first time in 8 ½ years that we were genuinely smiling for the camera.

On July 19, 2003, 3 days after his 25th birthday, Jonathan was hit with an RPG while guarding a municipal building near Baghdad.