Kenny W Leisten

Cornelius, Oregon

July 28, 2004

I raised Kenny from the time he was two years old until he shipped out for boot camp. He was a funny, smart, sweet kid, with a loving spirit and a huge smile. As he grew into a young man, his intelligence, individuality, integrity, and just plain gutsy determination showed themselves in a variety of ways. He was cool under pressure. He questioned the status quo if something seemed unfair to him. He had compassion. He stood up for freedom of speech and expression. He faced challenges squarely and with conviction. These were, of course, all things I tried to model for him and instill in him - but some of this can't be taught - it's just who he was. He joined the military in large part as a way to pay for college, but his convictions were such that he never flinched from the possibility of being put in harm's way. When the call-up came for the Oregon National Guard he voluntarily switched units to ensure that he would go to Iraq.

When that dreaded call came to tell me of his death, I felt like I had been slammed into a wall. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't speak. I felt as if my entire physical body was going to come apart, as if my spirit was trying to wrest itself from the physical plane and fly to wherever his spirit was. I felt like this would surely break me. But I felt him say to me, "hold your head up, Mom." When the day of his funeral finally came, it was so comforting to me to hear from his brothers and sisters in arms that all of the wonderful qualities I had seen developing in him had continued to grow, having been reinforced with the steel of military training, and further refined in the fire of battle. Again I heard his words, "hold your head up, Mom." Now that he has been laid to rest, I carry with me the memories of his life. I carry with me the strength of the bond between a mother and a son which transcends this world.

He was my only son, he was an American Soldier, and it is my great blessing to have held him in my life for 18 years. It is my great comfort to hold him in my heart now and forever. It is my great privilege to share these thoughts with you so that Kenny's life and death may be honored.

Thank you again for undertaking this work. It means so much to those of us who are grieving the losses of our loved ones.

Lisa LaBlanc-Willis

Snapshots Of The Memorial Service

August 9, 2004

My Nephew was SPC Kenny W Leisten, Kenny was killed in Iraq on the 28th of 2004.I miss him with all of my heart and soul, for anyone that never got the chance to meet Kenny, he was a wonderful young man, Kenny was smart, always smiled know matter what was in his way, I know that he was looking forward to being part of the military and he was having a blast with his buddies, I wish all of the families that have lost a loved one my condolences and for the ones still fighting in Iraq and other places a safe return home, with all my love a prayers for you all. Kenny's Aunt jenny Audrain