From the Ashes...A Son is Born to the late Captain Dustin Lukasiewicz!

And for the tender mother
Who dandled him to rest,
And for the wife who nurses
His baby at her breast,
And for the holy maidens
Who feed the eternal flame,—
To save them from false Sextus
That wrought the deed of shame ' 

An excerpt from:Narrative Poems: II. Rome
Horatius at the Bridge                                                                                 Captain Dustin R Lukasiewicz
Thomas Babington, Lord Macaulay (1800–1859) 
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It has been an emotional 6 weeks since we first learned that my wife's cousin (and my client and friend) had perished in a Marine helicopter crash on a humanitarian mission in Nepal along with 7 other people following the earthquakes. 

Thank you to all for your kind words whether here on AR, LinkedIn, FB, or in person.

It is almost eerie or uncanny how many events took place on days that already had a significance in our lives.

We lost Dusty in the crash on May 12th...on my wife's birthday.

Dusty's remains were flown to Dover Airbase from Nepal on May 23rd...my daughter's birthday. 

On May 25th, Memorial Day...along with my wife, Robyn, son Jake, and daughter Jaime, we stood over Interstate 80 and waved flags for an hour as Dusty's family arrived back in Nebraska from California. We didn't know what else to do. It was incredible how many travelers below us on that highway acknowledged the American Flag!!

It was especially heartbreaking when the Lukasiewicz family drove below us honking and waving!

Later that day Robyn and I helped take down and fold over 440 large US flags that each had laid on a casket of a service member in the past and are now flown on every Memorial Day in Kearney.

On June 1st, Dusty returned to Omaha via Delta Airlines with incredible respect from the Airline, Eppley Airfield, and the passengers.

Dusty was escorted the final 143 miles by the Patriot Guard, plus dozens of fire trucks and police vehicles on a 3+ hour trip down Highway 92 that was lined with thousands of people paying their respects along the way. 

The final hour of the trip was guided by a full moon over their left shoulder.

On June 5th,  we had a private family mass that was followed by a 3 hour visitation attended by hundreds, including the Patriot Guard, the Nebraska Lt Governor, US Senator Fischer, retired military officers both in uniform and out along with dozens of active military and folks that knew the family. People came from across the state and nation. 

On June 6th, following the largest funeral I have ever seen at the High School in St Paul, NE, we laid our National Hero,  to rest on a hill overlooking farms and fields near Farwell, NE. We were joined by over a thousand people in person and hundreds of thousands around the world via thought, prayer, and media. 

An incredible, yet somber, celebration that can only be described as something I have never witnessed in my life and brings me to near tears just describing it.

Every road blocked off by emergency vehicles and firetrucks on the 12 mile route to the cemetery.

Hundreds of people lining the roads and front yards to pay their respects as we passed by. Virtually all were holding the Stars and Stripes.

Helicopter flyover in a missing man formation, dozens upon dozens of soldiers from all branches in their military uniforms doing crisp, precise drills and salutes, hundreds and hundreds of American Flags, an occasional child would cry out, as children do, while we shed thousands…if not millions…of tears.

And a single Dog Tag on each end of an American hero's Mahogany Casket.

A single Dog Tag...a symbol of sacrifice...for me...for you...for his family ...for his country and for the people of Nepal.

I know Dusty would do it all again...perhaps that is what hurts worse.

On June 10th his son, Dustin Mark, was born here in Kearney. 

 A quiet and close family event. A   handsome young lad who was given his  Dad's first name and the middle name is for Ashley's Dad, who passed away a few years ago.

Forever linked together...Dustin and his son.

June 14th was my birthday...Flag Day.

I waved flags that day for Dusty and my Brother in Law - Bill Saalfeld, as I will every year for the rest of my life.

June 17th was Dusty's 30th birthday.  He should have been there to enjoy it...he had earned that right.

He was supposed to be here for the birth of his son...he had earned that right.

He was twice the man at 29 than I am at 62. Perhaps more.

We (he) had plans to acquire more farms...now we have to figure out how to keep the one I helped him buy last year since he had bought it using a first time farmers program.

But I swear to all that see this...if I have to hock everything I own...I will make sure that his wife Ashley and his children, Izzy and Dustin, come out okay...    Dusty earned that right!!

To all those who have family serving our country, Thank you.

To all those who have lost someone while serving, we now understand your sacrifice and stand united with you in defending this great country and our beautiful flag!

Hug those you love...if not in person...then in thought and prayer!!

Until Next Time...

Fair winds and following Seas Dusty... Semper Fi!