A Time of Remembrance

Larry, we love you and we miss you.


Larry was one of my older cousins. My dad's side is a very large family. My great grand parents had 14 kids. With that large of a family I'm sure you can imagine the sheer number of cousins and second cousins. Yet we still remain close. Larry was the one we called Hulk, (the younger kids called him Shrek).

It was three years ago that changed my family's lives. Three weeks before his tour ended, we learned that Larry had been killed in Iraq by a roadside IED. The news papers read a few days later...

VERSAILLES, Mo. - Missouri Army National Guard Sgt. Lawrence “Larry” Lee Roy Parrish lost his life doing what he loved to do - serve his country.

Parrish died of injuries suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device on Oct. 7, while serving in Iraq. Posthumously promoted to staff sergeant, Parrish was a member of the 110th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Kansas City.
Parrish was mobilized in August 2005. His unit went overseas in November of 2005 in an effort to provide convoy security and remove improvised explosive devices along Iraqi roadways.

SSG Parrish joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 1988 with the 1139th Military Police Company in Harrisonville. He later joined the U.S. Army and served in Bosnia, Qatar, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay.

In the 110th, he was assigned to Support Platoon, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, supporting the battalion's route clearance companies in their mission to keep the highways clear of improvised explosive devices.

The funeral was extremely emotional. They always are but this one had a bit of extra rawness to it. Not only were we honored by the military presence, but we were insulted by the hate filled people from the Westboro Baptist Church. I was raised Baptist, so I guess they are raised reading a different Bible than we were taught from. Thank goodness the Patriot Guard was in place. They shielded us from these monsters and kept them away from us so that we could have a sense of proper mourning at the service. There are not strong enough words to describe the disgust I feel for the Phelps family. Hopefully God will spare them when their time comes. Larry deserved better, he was better. I'll let his spirit teach me patience with them.


Larry knew of the danger that he was presented with each day he served our country. He knew that he could be killed, just like so many other young men and women who serve our country do. For that very reason I think they deserve they utmost respect and honor that we can give to them. I'm not asking you to like the war, I'm not asking you to agree with me on that. I don't like war, and neither did my cousin. But don't dare disrespect him, my father, my husband, my father in law, and many more people in my family that have served in the military by not showing them respect. Thank GOD that they have served this country because if they had not... who knows where we would be and what state our Union would be in. The people of Stover and some of the nearby towns also rallied to support our family. They lined the streets on our way to the graveyard. There were hundreds of people waving flags, wearing yellow ribbons displaying signs Larry we love you. Thanks SSG Parrish. I cried even harder on my way to the graveside. It was very moving how so many people loved and honored Larry. Thanks to the people of Stover for that. It meant quite a bit to us.

I write this blog for one reason and one reason only. If you have a child, a friend, anyone you know, or that is related to you that is serving in the Military, tell them how much you love them. How much you appreciate what they do for us. How proud you are of them. You never know when it might be your last chance to share this with them. Larry was 3 weeks shy of coming home from his tour. We would have rather wrapped our arms around him, than have to wrap his coffin with our flag. We love you Hulk, you still are our hero!

Some information was taken from the News Tribune. Click on link to read more.
http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2006/10/23/news_local/070local01.txt