A Brother's Words; A Sister's Thoughts by Cindy Campbell

Although I can talk with almost anyone, I spend a lot of time in solace to recharge. Over the years, I have grown accustomed to this oddity in my personality and have learned to push myself; however, there are certain "eventful" days when I know it's better to keep firm boundaries in place and hunker down. Memorial Day is one of those. Hearing from people who knew and love Chris has been really helpful through the years, especially because their memories with Chris bolster me on difficult days. Each relationship Chris had was dear to his heart, and each person who knew Chris holds a piece of his beautiful life's puzzle. My brother's life is truly celebrated when individuals are willing to kindly offer their piece. Chris' best friend, Joe, recently shared several stories and has given me permission to pass them along on this National Day of Remembrance - Memorial Day.  --------------------------------- "The year we graduated [from high school] my nephew, Z...

Not too long ago, I had the great joy of hearing some remarkable stories from Chris' best friend, Joe. He referenced my mom in his recollections and since it's Mother's Day, I thought it would be perfect to share one of his special memories from when he first met Chris, with his permission. Thank you, Joe! "I met Chris in August, 1991, on the practice field for White Oak High School football prior to the start of our junior year. I had a 1969 MG and Chris, being the opportunist that he always was, asked me to give him a ride home after practice. And Mrs. Campbell, being the kind-hearted, second mother that she ultimately became for me , let us eat all the corn dogs she had in the freezer. It was the first day of a friendship that grew into something so much more. Chris and I were inseparable. I grew up in the area and had friends that I had known since kindergarten, but my bond with Chris was different. Even after that first day, I felt like I knew him all of my life. ...

Do you have moments in life that make you ask yourself, are you kidding me? Shortly after my brother was killed, I had one of those moments. Learning that Chris left a wish that 100,000 people would donate to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) fit the "are you kidding me?" criteria, in a big way! I had never heard of WWP before August 6th, 2011. My google search made my heart fill with pride as I started going through the website. They serve ALL branches of the military and ALL ranks. Race, religion or gender does not matter! If someone served in the military after 9/11, the programs and services offered by WWP are there for them. The organization exists "to help foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history".  My brother, a little kid from a town in North Carolina, grew up to be a member of one of the most elite military forces, and in spite of that, retained a sense of compassion for others as he considered his ...

On June 21st, 2000, Chris emailed me from a cyber-cafe in the Phillipines. He and a few others took a tour of Corregidor Island. He wrote "If you are not up on your military history, this little island was the last stronghold that the U.S. and Phillipines were holding against Japan in WW2. This is the place where General MacArthur said those famous words, ' I shall return '. I am getting goosebumps typing!!"  While on this trip, Chris had a particularly interesting encounter. "And, get this, this little guy that lived in the hills and fished for a living sold me this original dog tag that he dug up in the jungle. The moment I saw it I just [knew I] have to return it to the family that it belongs to. The soldier's name was Michael P. from Pittsburgh, PA. His wife's name and their home address is on the tag. This is my mission. I choose to accept. I will be so happy to find them and return it!" Chris ended this email to me by suggesting I call our mom ...

What does it mean to be a  Warrior Queen?  It’s a lifetime of care and love that often goes unseen. For there is no glory at the very start, when a mother first hears the beat of a brave heart. Days turn to weeks as she watches her belly grow. She will soon deliver a hero the world has yet to know. Her heart melted when handed her sweet bundle of joy. It was love at first sight for this mother and baby boy. Protecting and guiding little steps is no easy feat. The challenge of parenting can be bittersweet. Diapers to change and tears to wipe away. Picnics, birthdays and ball games to watch and play. In the blink of an eye, he donned cap and gown. His quest for adventure meant he would soon be leaving town. He felt alive with the sand between his toes and surfboard in hand. The roar of the ocean was with him as he left to serve our homeland. His mother continued her silent prayers for his body and soul. The safe return of this grown, young man had become her goal. Her quiet vigi...

The band One Republic has so many great songs, and 'I Lived' is one of them. From the time my brother was a little boy, he had an indomitable spirit. Boundaries were meant to be broken, challenges charged head on, and fear seemed to be a foreign concept to our family's curly, reddish-brown-haired and twinkly-eyed tyke. This stanza from this song is Chris personified, "I owned every second that this world could give, I saw so many places, the things that I did, yeah, with every broken bone, I swear I lived".  My mom shared that she was recently asked, "does it get any easier?", by another mother who is just learning to live with a broken heart. No, was the simple answer. Twelve years into her grief journey, my mom says, "we visit the hurt and the pain, but we cannot afford to stay there. It will make you go crazy. Focus on the love and the memories!" With that, it seems fitting on my brother's special day to share memories from birthdays pas...

October 28, 2003 Hello All. Trust everyone is doing well. I may not have talked to you in some time and for that I sincerely apologize... Sometimes we all get caught up in things that seem important that we fail to realize what should matter most . Family, friends and our well-being we seem to take for granted. At this hour, I am trying to think of a way to remember a man from which I learned quiet humility ... Chris M was a friend, a teammate, an American. He was taken from us... Back in September some friends and I had a little bonfire on a quiet stretch of beach near Crown Point in San Diego. Chris showed up during the night wearing a large wool coat. He sure looked comfortable!! As we talked and swapped stories of past adventures, he said that he was the happiest he had ever been. He said life was going great, the only thing he was missing was someone to share it with... As I left for Iraq on 2 Oct., Chris told me goodbye and "see you when I see you". Chris left shortly t...