I wanted to post the following to spread the word about Jon Stiles...
From this post.... http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3129303
dadgecko Challenge - Help me honor a true hero
Bear with me ... as I write this, my brother's body is being shipped back home from Afghanistan. Specialist Jonnie (Jon) Lee Stiles died from wounds he received from an IED yesterday morning, (or yesterday evening local Afghani time). Jon was a true hero.
Less than a month ago, Jon and another soldier from his unit risked their lives by entering a burning vehicle to pull out two of their fellow soldiers. Both men are alive stateside now. Jon suffered smoke inhalation, damagin his vocal chords. He was given the opportunity to recover in Germany. I've been told that that situation almost always returns the soldier stateside. Instead, Jon declined. He stayed with his unit, preferring to serve with them. He died doing exactly what he wanted to do in life. Jon loved the military and his fellow soldiers - he was incredibly proud to serve. This country lost a warrior.
I'm sorry, that was long - off my soap box now. It has been a difficult day and a half, hard on me, my parents, and my family.
But I'm not looking for sympathy ... I want your help to keep my brother's name alive. Here's my challenge: Write Jon into your story.
Before NaNo began this year, I read of a challenge a guy named Tim made to his friends whenever they hit a road block. His solution, insert him into the story. It could be substantial, or it could be something as simple as "and then Tim walked by."
I'm asking you to do the same thing, only this time with my brother's name. Would you help me to honor a true hero - a man who has literally saved the lives of others and served this country proudly - by just mentioning him in your NaNovel this year?
I'm not asking for you to make him your main character, or even a bit player. If you could just mention him, that would help keep his memory alive.
Thank you,
Charles Stiles
Specialist Jon Stiles, 7/6/1970 - 11/13/2008.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Launa (yes, Launa with an n), married November of 2000; his mother and stepfather (Linda and Larry); his father and step-mother (Charles and Cecilia); a younger sister and brother (Natalie Michele and Kenneth Joseph); an older brother and his family, Charles and Laura, (yes, Laura) with two kids: Nathan and Jessica; a step-brother, Larry; a step-sister, Julie ... and numerous extended family and friends - all blessed to know and love him.
----------
In memory - Jon Stiles - I'll always love you bro.
Don't forget to post a message to dadgecko here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3129303 if you add Jon to your story!
----------
NaNo 2008 - Sugarland {working title}
Fanfiction: http://fanfiction.zoewatsonnovels.com
Fiction: http://zoewatsonnovels.com
50,186 / 50,000
Nov 19, 2008 - 16 04
Thank you for posting this.
80,409 / 50,000
Nov 20, 2008 - 22 14
Aww, *sniff* Anyway, he's in my novel...
80,466 / 50,000
Nov 20, 2008 - 22 37
Consider it done. Consider it being done right this very moment, as there is the perfect opportunity to do so at this very moment in my plot.
51,585 / 50,000
Nov 20, 2008 - 23 26
I'm so sorry for your loss.
He'll be in my story when I sit down to write again.
50,060 / 50,000
Nov 21, 2008 - 23 48
I've got him in mine.
50,029 / 50,000
Nov 24, 2008 - 16 45
He's in my story as well, as an awesome guy who owns a subversive restaurant. Yes, it's a subversive restaurant. So there. :)
50,745 / 50,000
Nov 25, 2008 - 11 32
In my novel, Jon Lee Stiles is the young, caring vet's assistant who cares for my protagonist's cat while she goes off to find her daughter who has been kidnapped.