Dear Jon

A Eulogy For Jon

Dear Jon,

Throughout our shared time on this earth, there have been years & often miles between us -you were 18 when I was 10, you deployed to war when I was a senior in High School and I moved out of Michigan in 2017. But, no matter what, you have always been & will always be my big brother. You were never shy to offer brotherly advice, like when you told me to dump my high school boyfriend because he wore ripped jeans and had a weak handshake (and I did). I remember when you joined the Marines and deployed, I was so proud to be the sister of a US Marine. The kids in my high school were surely afraid of you, and thought you were larger than life. And you were. I mourn the memories we could have made together, the way life could have been. We had recently gotten to talking about adventures we could take together, and as I stand here today, my heart hurts that we ran out of time… But I trust that our adventures are meant to be shared in the next life, and you will roadmap them for us ‘til I get there. You will never be forgotten. My future kids will know of the strong & courageous man their Uncle Jon was -the Marine, the brother, the son, the uncle and the friend -and I know you will look out for us, wherever you are. Its time for your tired soul to rest easy, until we meet again on the other side.

Love always, your baby sister.