The Passing of a Hero...
 

Master Sargeant Jared Van Aalst,, special operations for the United States Army Rangers was killed in action on Wednesday during a combat operation in the Konduz province of Afghanistan.

Jared was born in Laconia and was a friend. I got to know Jared through another friend of mine who is also an Army Ranger.

He was married and had a 7 year old daughter Kaylie and a 22 month old daughter Ava.

My flag at my camp on Welch Island fly's at 1/2 mast in honor of Jared. If your passing by Welch this weekend and see my flag, please give a moment of silence to honor someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Please keep Jared's family in your thoughts and prayers...

Thank You;

Dan

Dan-

Sure does hit home when the news of the death of one of our solders is somebody that you know personally. Worse yet is many of these guys are leaving families behind, so so sad.

Please pass along sincerest condolences to his family and he most certainly is a hero.

He will be in our thoughts and prayers. My flag will fly at half mast in his honor. May God bless his soul!!

I belong to the Patriot Guard. Here is the condolences thread on their site, if it is OK to post it here....

http://patriotguard.org/ALLForums/ta...t.aspx#1419383

Very sad and that soldier certainly has my extreme respect and I send out my prayers for the him and his family. :(

Thank you Master Sargent Van Aalst. Thank you.

Dan, I am sorry for the loss of your friend... my thoughts and condolences to his family. Please let us know if a memorial fund is set up.

Dan,

My condolences to you and especially the family and friends of Master Sargeant Van Aalst.

The young men and women who are voluntarily protecting this Country in this time of two far flung wars are truly the heros of this generation!

I am proud to fly the flag of my Country, but so sad to have to do it at half staff so often....

Dan,
Our flag will also pay honor to this American Hero. He and his family will be in our prayers.

Dan,

As the father of a US Marine, 1st Lt (US Naval Academy -2008) who will be deploying in 51 days and the father in law of a US Marine Staff Sgt, currently on his fifth deployment (since the initial invasion of IRAQ) serving as a senior crew chief, flying V22 Osprey's, my heart goes out to your friends family.

I like you experienced a similar loss in this war, when my daughters friends husband lost his life last fall when the chopper he was flying crashed.

As an Army vet, serving in the sixites, I salute the service of this fallen hero.

Airborne... Master Sgt...Airborne

And thank you Winni-Retired and Airborne, and all the other vets both here and across the country, for your service.

God speed, Master Sgt. Van Aalst.

in his honor...
 

our small flag at Kevin's Cafe on the Pier has been lowered as well. God Bless America.

Thank you Master Sargent Van Aalst for your service to our Country and the Ultimate Sacrifice that you gave for all of us.

My heartfelft condolences go out to your family and friends.

Another Hero...
 

Another lost hero was Matthew Stanley of Wolfeboro. (Four years ago, in Iraq).

At that time, I asked of the Wolfeboro Selectmen that a street be named for Matthew Stanley... Perhaps Laconia could do the same for Master Sergeant Jared Van Aalst?

Yesterday, a new sign appeared in front of me: it wasn't a street that had been named for Matthew Stanley, but a new Wolfeboro bridge!
:patriot:

Check out rt. 28 north from Wolfeboro. The road is also names from Stanley.

God Bless Our Troops
 

God Bless. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

I would be proud to have a bridge named after me. "You can't get there without this bridge."