Tribute Gunnery Sgt Edward Reeder

KIA August 21, 2004 Edward Reeder, 32, of Camp Verde, Ariz., died in Iraq's Al Anbar province after his Humvee flipped over and ejected him when it was struck by a tank. Reeder was born in Flagstaff and grew up on northern and central Arizona ranches. He joined the Marines after graduating from high school in Camp Verde in 1990. He was assigned to the Headquarters and Service Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. He is survived by a wife and two children. Pat Potter recalls her great-nephew’s pet raccoon he had when he was 10 years old and a messy day the animal and its owner had years ago. "The raccoon chased the cat down the chimney, and they had soot all over his house, and he had to clean up all the soot," Potter said of Edward Reeder. "My favorite memory is of him and his raccoon." After he graduated from high school in 1990, Reeder joined the Marines. His career led to service in Bosnia, Liberia, Somalia and the Persian Gulf. "I think he decided that was what he wanted to do," Potter said. "His father was a cowboy, and maybe the military was a way out of ranch life." He had two children with his wife, Christine, 10-month-old Jarrett and 4-year-old Sarah Ruth. "He couldn’t have died doing a better thing," his wife said. Sniper - You, GySgt Reeder and his family are in my thoughts and prayers today. I will never forget that fateful day. It will be forever etched into my heart and mind, as I know it is with you. Godspeed GySgt Reeder "People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad." ~Marcel Proust dyzgoneby