Eric liked the outdoors, shooting, archery, taking Wolfgang, our dog, for long walks in the woods. If you were Eric's friend he would do anything to help you out it didn't matter what it was. He was always there for you.
He had touched many people in his short time with us, and I have had the privilege to meet quite a few of them. I cherish those moments because then I get to meet the people he had touched on his way through life.
Eric was on his second tour when he lost his life. He was kind, sweet, caring a very strong individual. Some one that can achieve whatever he puts his mind to. As a young child he played bowling, football, baseball, paint ball, archery, and shooting.
He loved to go hiking through the woods. He would take our dog, Wolfgang, with him.
One day they were gone a lot longer than usual. I looked up the street to see them both coming home. He was carrying him over his shoulders. He told me that Wolfgang got tired and layed down in the stream and would not get up. So the only way to get him home was to carry him home. I forgot to tell you Wolfgang was a beautiful German Sheppard and large for his breed.
When he went into the military Eric gave his car to his best friend. Eric told him it would just sit in the driveway. If he took it he would have a car to go back and forth to collage.
There was one young man that serviced the IED that took three lives that day. I look at this next event as a privilege. I can't remember the year but it was Veteran's Day. The second President Bush was in office. He had invited wounded soldiers to the Intrepid in New York City so they could meet the President.
This young man, Jammin, gave up meeting the President to meet his Sgt.'s mother. He got the Patriot guard that was helping with his stay in New York to take him to New Jersey to meet me. I will never forget that day, knowing what he gave up to come see me.
We talked for a few hours. He told me that Eric would keep after him with certain things that he could not get done in a specified time. Because of Eric's persistence, he was able to survive that horrible day in Iraq.
I miss him every day. My outlook on life is very different than others, I take each day as it comes, don't take anything for granted, let people know that I care and thank them for the time we get to share together. Always be kind to all, we never know if we will get another chance.