Who is your memory of this Memorial Weekend?
Mine is Captain Dustin Lukasiewicz.
Last week I mentioned a name of a family member we lost serving our country in a different blog and mentioned then that it was a story for another day.
It has been 9 years and 12 days since that day happened in Nepal while piloting a helicopter high in the Mountains after a terrible earthquake.
It was on my wife's Birthday. I knew it was his chopper as soon as they mentioned one missing as I had felt very wierd all day.
His Grandpa told me he had a wierd feeling all day as well. He was so close to Dusty...more like a son than a grandson.
His Grandpa Teddy is closing in on 89 
and was planting corn earlier this week.
I went back in the AR archives and reviewed what I wrote back then and of the few comments...only 2 people are still active in regards to reading and commenting on my blogs. Hannah Williams and Joan Cox.
My last words to Hannah still ring true today!!
Here are my comments to both of them back then.
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Hi Joan Cox Thank you for your kind words. We finally will have Dusty back with the family as his remains are scheduled to be flown into Offutt Air Base in Omaha on Monday, June 1. We will have services for family on Friday and for the hundreds who want to say goodbye on Saturday, June 6... His wishes were to be laid to rest on the hill overlooking farm ground in Rural Farwell, NE.
His family is very strong and will weather this storm...but danggit...I see all of these trouble makers and we lose this great one. I am frustrated to say the least.
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Hi Hannah Williams It was an emotional month. Thank you for your kind words.
We lost Dusty on May 12th...on my wife's birthday (his cousin)...
Dusty's remains were flown to Dover Airbase from Nepal on May 23rd...my daughter's birthday. We laid Dusty to rest on June 6th joined by a thousand people.
On June 10th his son, Dustin Mark, was born here in Kearney.
June 14th was my birthday and June 17th was Dusty's 30th birthday. He was twice the man at 29 than I am at 62.
We had plans to acquire more farms...now we have to figure out how to keep the one since he had bought it using a first time farmers program.
But if I have to hock everything I own...I will make sure that Ashley comes out okay... Hug those you love...if not in person...then in thought and prayer!!
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Update to today...May 24, 2023
The farm is still in the family. Ashley has a wonderful new man in her life but cannot marry him or she will lose all the benefits for the kids who are now 11 and 9. SHe is heavily involved in the Gold Star program and continues to talk on a local and national basis being a voice for the families that lose a loved one in the line of duty and after.
Dusty is laid to rest in Farwell, NE high on a hill. Within about 150 feet where I will be laid to rest someday. That way we both can watch the corn and alfalfa grow!
Until Next Time...Honor Those you Love and respect those you do not.
Have a safe and honorable weekend! Mike
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