Lance Corporal Andrew Russoli (HoL 9)

I haven’t been able to write for a few weeks. Nancy and I have been swept up in a storm of both joyous reunions and heartbreaking tragedy.

On Thursday, October 20, our friend, Lance Corporal Andrew Russoli, was killed in Iraq by an improvised explosive device. Nancy and I were both out of town when the news first hit our church. She was in Florida introducing Isaac to his great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

I was in New York City celebrating the wedding of one of my dearest friends, Don Undeen. Nancy and I both had fun, exhausting trips, but there was an undercurrent of grief with the sudden loss of our friend. We both knew that a very difficult funeral was waiting for us at home.

Nancy ended up staying for an extra few days in Florida, partly thanks to the hurricane, and partly because she was having such a good time seeing her nieces and nephew. I came home to a house that felt very empty. I went to the airport twice last week. Once to see Andrew’s flag draped coffin arrive home, and once to take my wife and sweet boy home.

I missed Nancy quite a bit, but I’d been away from her for a week at a time before. I really missed the boy. He seemed much bigger and more talkative than when he left.

Nancy’s sister made Isaac a super cool Elvis costume for Halloween. It’s a white jumpsuit with leopard print trim and a rhinestone pattern on the front and the cape. We took him to a couple of parties and even entered him into a costume contest. Alas he was beat by a crappy store bought "Thomas the Train” costume.

The Halloween party was fun, but still a lot of hard work. The church had to clean everything up Sunday night, because the visitation and Andrew’s funeral were on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The funeral and visitation were huge. While waiting in line to visit with Sally and Roland, Andrew’s parents, I looked through a few of their old photo albums and couldn’t hold back the tears seeing pictures of Andrew at the same age as Isaac. I couldn’t imagine the suffering they are going through. Sally hugged Nancy and Isaac and the three of them cried.

About 700 people attended the funeral. The only dry eyes in the place were the two dozen marines in formal dress who sat stoically. I will forever remember the slow, synchronized final salute that those marines gave to their fallen brother.

We are just starting to get back to our normal lives today, although Nancy and I are both developing sinus infections. My goal for this weekend is to do nothing at all.

I’ll leave you on a funny note. You will just have to imagine it. Nancy and I both wish we had video taped it. Most of you know, I am a world champion belcher. I let one rip after dinner tonight, and Isaac jumped, had a puzzled look on his face for about three seconds, and then started to cry. I don’t know if it was fear of the sound, or embarrassment that I would do that in front of his prom date someday. I think it’s just because he realizes how hard he’ll have to work to beat me.

I leave you now with Andrew’s motto.

“Strength and Honor”

Peace.

Big Matt