War casualities - and their families - honored, remembered

VIRGINIA BEACH

Meghan Valentine stood in front of the banner towering over her and searched high and low for one name.

“Are you looking for Daddy?” asked her brother, John, 11.

Meghan, 8, nodded and pointed to the one closest to her heart. Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas J. Valentine was a Navy Seal who died in February 2008 during a pre-deployment training accident.

Meghan, John and their mother, Christina Valentine, were one of the many families attending the Honor and Remember Second Annual Gold Star Family Evening at The Founders Inn and Spa on Dec. 5.

“It reminds the children that their father’s sacrifice hasn’t gone unnoticed and won’t be forgotten,” said Christina Valentine, who lives in Virginia Beach. “This is a great honor and recognition.”

The event was a tribute to some of Virginia’s fallen heroes and their families. Hundreds of family members, including parents, wives, children, siblings, fiancées and others of those lost, were in attendance.

During the emotional evening affair, attendees enjoyed dinner, bid on silent-auction items, viewed a video tribute and were entertained with a musical performance by Rockie Lynne, a former Army paratrooper.

They were touched by remarks made by the founder of Honor and Remember, George Lutz of Chesapeake, whose son, Cpl. George Anthony “Tony” Lutz II, was killed in Iraq by a sniper’s bullet in December 2005.

Families received 36 personalized Honor and Remember flags. The ongoing mission of Honor and Remember is to establish a tangible national symbol of gratitude as a visible public reminder to all Americans perpetually recognizing the sacrifice of military fallen heroes and their families, according to the nonprofit’s website.

Christina Valentine wanted her children to receive the flag honoring her late husband.

“They know their father loved them immensely,” she said of the children she calls little V’s.

Jeanne and Donn Weaver accepted a flag in honor and remembrance of their son, 1st Lt. Todd Weaver, who was killed in Afghanistan in September 2010.

The Hampton couple said they were honored to be included, and brought along two of Jeanne’s paintings, which depict the emotion behind losing their Army soldier son. She is working on a series of 21 pieces with all proceeds from the sale of reproductive pieces of her art donated to a memorial award established in Todd’s name.

“It is truly helping me in the healing process,” said Jeanne Weaver, who used to paint seascapes. “When I began I think I put more water on the canvas with tears.”

Weaver said it took her a year to paint the experience of a military officer coming to her door to tell her of her son’s death.

Armand and Andrea Grez of Chesterfield were there in honor of their son, who was a Marine. Lance Cpl. Jourdan Grez arrived in Iraq in March of 2005 and was killed two months later.

“He had a quote in his journal that said when he cleans up in Iraq, he’ll fold the world in half and come back to see Colin,” Andrea Grez said, referring to her now 8-year-old grandson. “The only thing he feared was not seeing his son grow up; he wasn’t afraid of the war or dying. But, he didn’t make it home.”