Heroes come in all sizes and can be from all walks of life. Last Sunday a military hero made the ultimate sacrifice. His name was Chief Special Warfare Operator William 'Ryan' Owens, a U.S. Navy Seal of the elite Seal Team 6. He died during a raid in Yemen in the midst of a two hour gun battle. For 18 years he served our country and this was his 12th deployment. He was a husband and father. He was 36 years old.
I never met Ryan and my connection to him is minuscule. However, when I saw his photo I recognized him from a collection of photographs and memorabilia I had gathered from a local estate auction a few years ago. I purchased all of the photo frames and various boxes in the house that belonged to Ryan's mom. As I removed photos, I realized that I had his entire life, from him as a baby to graduation to enlistment to marriage to his own babies, displayed in my hands. I couldn't toss the memories that his mom treasured, but I didn't know his name. I sorted photos, read his letters from basic training, and found clues to his identity. The unusual spelling of his wife's name led me to the Internet.
I found a phone number for the only match in the U.S. with their names. I called the Virginia Beach number and left a message. Ryan called back and after a brief conversation, we concluded that these were from his mom's estate. He gave me an address and I mailed the package. I never heard from him again and soon put the memory away. I had no idea he was a Navy Seal, nor did I realize I would ever see another photo of him.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
It breaks my heart to know he is gone, but I am honored that I perhaps gave him the means to see again how much his mom loved him.
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