Saturday, Jun. 14, 2008

Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper's family thanks Merced

Editor’s Note: Merced native Staff Sgt. Frank J. Gasper, 25, was killed in Iraq on May 25. Gasper’s mother and mother-in-law wrote the following letters to thank the Merced community for its support. Readers can reach Anita Richards at aj-richards@att.net and Stacey Devine-Fairfield at devines@mail.maricopa.gov.

Dear Merced residents, Snelling Community, family, friends and supporters from far and near:

On behalf of Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper's family, we would like to give special thanks to each of you for your love and support during this difficult time. We were completely overwhelmed by the blessings we received from both our hometown residents and people we did not even know from all over the world. All the cards, on-line messages,flowers, money, phone calls, hugs, food donations and condolences provided us with such comfort that words cannot express.

We especially felt comforted to have Sgt. 1st Class Robert Haflick and Sgt. Donald Ramsey from the military provide Breanna and our families with their support.

The personal love and support we received from the soldiers, chaplain and military staff from my son's unit -- 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group, Fort Carson, Colo. -- was above and beyond what we expected. We could not have made it through this without you. Your participation in the service and the heartfelt words you spoke there brought out our son's passion and helped everyone understand what Frank stood for. The service would not have been as beautiful as it was without you.

Special thanks to Pastor Sam Emory, Tawanna Ratzlaff and the Apostolic Tabernacle choir and church family for honoring Frank's request. It was exactly how Frankie would have wanted it. Special thanks to The Branding Iron and La Hacienda 2 for your food donations the day of the funeral. It was very much appreciated.

Special thanks to Merced County Public Health Department and Winton Hardware for being so supportive of us during the loss of our son. The other thing that really stands out in my mind is the flags displayed along the road on 15th Street and B Street, and all the people standing there showing their support. It brought such comfort to us when we saw you standing there honoring our hero, our son Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper.

Special thanks to the National Color Guard in coordinating the Patriot Guard Riders during Frank's homecoming and during the funeral. Your presence and seeing those flags wave represented what my son stood for. Your love and support was definitely felt and provided comfort.

We would like to thank Lt. Gen. Robert Wagner, commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Ft. Bragg, N.C., U.S .Senator Barbara Boxer, Merced County Executive Officer Dee Tatum, and AFSCME Local Union 2703 for the letters of condolence. Your condolences really meant a lot to our family.

Special thanks to Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper's childhood hometown residents of Snelling, for your love and support. It really brought such comfort in more ways than you can imagine when we arrived at the cemetery and saw all those signs, like "Snelling loves SSG Frank Gasper," being held up with such pride and honor. I know Frankie was smiling from ear to ear when he arrived to the cemetery and saw you standing there with those signs. The signs will forever be remembered in our hearts.

It was the military, the residents of Merced, friends from out of town, the general public, and people from all over the world that made Staff Sgt. Frank Gasper's funeral what it was. The spirit of pride, gratitude and honor that we all shared the day we put Frank to rest next to his father, the late Joe Gasper, was a result of your appreciation, respect and honor toward the sacrifice Staff Sgt. Gasper made for each of us, our country and others.