This marks the one year Jon. I was lucky enough to have spent it with your family whom I find ever so dear. It wrenches my heart to think about you gone all this time. Sometimes I think of how long it has taken, and then again, how fast it has gone by.
Today would of marked the one year of myself finding out of your death. I still will never forget, being in class and seeing the New York area code come up on my phone. For some nagging reason, I left out of class, to find out of your death, dropping to my knees in sorrow. One year ago today buddy, how it feels like it has been so long.
Today during school I found my mind wandering, and coming home not knowing what to do. I walked out to the lake from the house. I went to the center on the ice, standing there, waiting and thinking. I stood in the center of a snowmobile track, seeing it go across the lake into a distance. I wrote your name in the snow, the reason, I don't know. After my toes turned cold, and I couldn't stand there any longer, I started to walk in. I walked back in the same tracks as I walked out there in, thinking that maybe if you were out there on the lake with me, you would have no troubles coming to find me, just follow my tracks.
The pain has not changed since that one year ago, and to my knowledge will not change unto the future. I love and miss you tons bro, think of you always. Godspeed.
Shea Ahern
-SPC Shea Ahern (February 28, 2008)
It's taken me longer to write on this site than I should have because I didn't know what to write, but what follows comes from an expression of my thoughts and my heart. I only knew Jonathan D. Cadavero through my current boss, Mr. David Cadavero. He loved his son and I only knew that because he spoke of him often. Working with Mr. Cadavero is such a joy--truly he brightens my day whenever I meet him in the morning to begin work usually by 8 in the morning. I suspect Jonathan Cadavero had the same humor and Christian attitude. I had the honor of speaking with young Cadavero on the phone once (two weeks before that day). Calling from Iraq, he wanted to speak with his father, but Mr. Cadavero was not around at that time. I couldn't see this man's expression, but his voice told me--he needed to hear a familiar voice. We ended the conversation, and somehow my heart sunk. I felt for this young man who was thousands of miles away. If I was that far from my family, I would want to hear from my Dad, too. That night, I prayed to Jesus to be with Jonathan Cadavero and to surround him with protection. Despite my talks to the heavenly father, the inevitable happened on that fateful Feb. 27 day. O, I cried, and cried, and cried and I became puzzled as to why something like this happened to the Cadavero family? Though I cannot understand the impact, one thing I must say, this young man was a blessing to many. I noticed this upon my arrival to the funeral service. I salute this young man for everything he was, what he's accomplished and could have accomplished, and what he stood for. We need more young men like Jonathan Cadavero. As I reflect back on that time, one year has come and gone and yesterday, marked the one year period of the event. My boss has begun to heal (not fully, but gradually) and still carries out jokes in the office, which is a nice comfort to the staffers. I had the privilege of speaking with Mrs. Cadavero and she is quite a lady. I was helping her to get a pastor's number and we spoke for just a few minutes. If she is reading this, I hope you're much better since we last spoke. Respectfully, I'd like to say to the family "To keep on keeping on" meaning never forget the memories of Jonathan Cadavero, and to never give up on loving those who are presently with you. The way you loved Jonathan, love the youth you are surrounded by and show them the qualities you've instilled in Jonathan. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to each one of the Cadavero family.
Kimi-Roux James Administrative Assistant to David A. Cadavero Greater New York Conference of SDA
- (February 28, 2008)
I can't believe a year has passed since Jony left us. February 27 has changed for many people that had the pleasure of knowing Jony. He was in my thoughts all day and I just want his family to know that I pray for God to give you strength each day. Be sure that we will see him in Heaven one day. Mrs. Cadavero (Nadia), it's been a long time since I've seen you but I want you to know that my heart is with you and you should be very proud of Jony. He was a great friend and a great example to others. I pray God give his family peace. Much love.
-Lillian Portillo Loza (February 28, 2008)
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intellingent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one's self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived - this is to have succeeded." Emerson
February 27th, will never again be the same for all who were blessed to have Jonny as a part of their lives.
I love you my dear friend, I cherish every memory of our carefree days and thank God for the honor of calling you my friend.
-Yanivis Fragozo (February 27, 2008)
Today is February 27th. To the vast majority of people in the world, it is just another day to get out of bed, go to school, work or whatever. For others, some will celebrate it as an anniversary, or a birthday or some other event that will make a room full of people happy. But to my family and I and extended family, it is day we will never forget. An American hero named Jonathan Cadavero was tragically killed in action in Bagdad. My nephew Jonathan, as a youg boy, would love to play with his GI Joe's. From the time Jon decided to join the military, his greatest desire was to serve his country, to make it a place that would be more safe and better for his children someday, a country that he loved. Having been in the military myself, I was excited and proud to hear of his total commitment. What a shock to hear the news that he was killed in action. Our immediate reaction was - where was God when this happened? Didn't we pray and go to church? Doesn't that count for anything? When I think of all the bad things that happen every day on our planet, I have to remember that there are still many good things that happen every day to. There are some like my nephew Jonathan who will always be the shining stares in their neighborhood or wherever they are. They brighten every life they meet, they make the world a better place because they are difference makers. And even after they are gone, their memory like Jonathan's will last forever. Today, we reflect on the commitment, the courage and unending sacrifices of these brave men and women. I am looking forward to the day when God will wipe away all the tears from our eyes, when we will see Him face to face. We all have hundreds of questions to ask our Creator. He will put His arms around us and ask .. so what's your first question? Why did you allow my ....I can't wait to hear the answers. Richard and Barbara Cadavero - February 27th
-Richard (February 27, 2008)
Unfortunately, I did not have the privilege of seeing my cousins, Kristia and Jon, very much growing up. i believe the last time I saw Jon was at our grandma's funeral ten years ago. And yet I felt the loss of his death quite keenly, in a way that surprised me for not having known him. At the funeral I saw who he was and was touched by the stories of his bravery and patriotism-humor and love for his family and wife Michelle, the list goes on and on. It all made me feel that I had missed out. Because as others have said, Jon was a bright light that touched everyone he made contact with. i honestly left his funeral last year with the desire to be a better person. So to all who loved him-may you take comfort in the realization that this life is temporary. Heaven and Jonny await you.
Lori (Cadavero) Johns Fishersville, VA
-Lori Johns (February 27, 2008)
Dearest Cousin Kristia,
Please forgive me for not including your name in the end of my last entry..A terrible mistake by me, but then I realized I wanted to send you a personal message letting you that I am definitely thinking of you on this day, especially. I know Jon was so much more to you than just a brother..he was your best friend..I'm SO proud of you for keeping your promise to him in returning to school..I know that would mean an awful lot to him. Words cannot express my sympathy to you and your family on this day of Jon's anniversary of his tremendous sacrifice to our country.
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers today, of all days. I know you are thinking about your brother and best friend all day long today..
I hope to talk to you soon!
Love, Your Cousin, Jeffrey Cadavero
-Jeffrey Cadavero (February 27, 2008)
I will never forget the night..February 27, 2007. I was upstairs in my parent's house at the time my father received a phone call from his brother, my Uncle David..I then heard an excruciating "wail" coming from my father's office and I thought he was having a heart attack..I rushed downstairs as quicky as I could only to see my father weeping and uttering the words NONE of us ever wanted to hear..."Jonathan is dead"...I remember the "utter shock" I felt upon hearing the terrible news..I couldn't believe it..this can't be, I thought..I had just received a letter from my precious cousin, Jon, and e-mails & phone call not long before that..so many thoughts raced through my mind..I didn't want to believe it..I wanted to go to sleep and wake up without ever hearing those words again...
A year later (today), I still miss my cousin very, very much..he was like my "little brother"..so much more than a first cousin, he was and still is, my hero..the sacrifice he made for us and our country will NEVER be forgotton or taken lightly.
I long to see him in Heaven one day soon.
So Uncle David, Aunt Nadia, & Michelle, Please know you all are in my thoughts and prayers today, of all days..I pray that God will give you the strength to make it through this day and the perseverance to continue on with your lives as much as you can..Jonathan touched all of our lives in so many different ways..
A year later, I still can't believe my precious cousin is gone..I wish he was still here for all of us..it won't be long and we will all be able to see him again..What a glorious day that will be!
Much Love,
Jeffrey Cadavero (Jonathan's first cousin & 'big brother")
-Jeffrey Cadavero (February 27, 2008)
February 27th, on any other given year before 2007, was just an ordinary day in our lives. A late winter day that perhaps murmured the first, whispery promise of a long-awaited spring. Or perhaps left a gentle snowfall over the landscape of our daily lives. Off to work or school, deadlines to meet, tasks to complete, meals made, prayers quickly said, a day we more than likely don’t specifically recall with any great detail from one year to the next. Yes, simply an ordinary day in a string of many. And then in the year 2007, “February 27th” changed into a completely different day. Time stood still – if for just a moment - for everyone in Jon’s family, for his fellow comrades and friends, and the countless lives he touched. February 27th will never again be viewed as “just another ordinary day.” It will be a day that we will each mark in our own quiet way of a life cut far too short. And what might have been.
So – how best to mark this day for Jon? Anniversaries are given great meaning, and hopefully cause us to pause in our daily rounds to remember, reminisce, and rejoice about a life so well-lived and well-loved, despite its heartbreaking brevity here on earth. In marking this momentous first anniversary for my cousin, Jon, I will silently recite a line from a card that I received from my dear uncle after my mother’s death a number of years ago: “In time, as we grieve for our loved ones, we will remember that they LIVED, and not just that they died.” Today is the day to do that, if ever. Yes, we all still mourn Jon’s loss. Perhaps more deeply than ever. The void left by Jonny in the lives of his wife and family, as well as his extended family, his many friends, comrades-in-arms, and beyond, is felt more sharply as time goes on. But if we each find a way to not only mourn, but also to celebrate Jon’s life on this day, and to continue to celebrate it a little on each and every day throughout the years to come, then his legacy will live on forever through each of us. What greater gift can we give him than to keep his memory alive -- and to rejoice in the fact that we were all blessed at one time or another to have been in the presence of such an exceptional young man. He left deep footprints on our hearts that will never be washed away by the waves of time. Jon’s light continues to shine brightly, even after death. And so we must pay it forward – to our loved ones, our colleagues, to our neighbors, our community, and to the world beyond. Yes, pay it forward. Keep the light shining around us. Our everlasting gift to Jonathan Cadavero.
Debra Valle and Family (Jon's cousin) Dudley, Massachusetts
-Debra Valle (February 27, 2008)
One year ago tomorrow I was handed the worst day in my life. I'm writing tonight because these were the last "normal" hours of my life. A year ago this was the last peaceful night sleep and the last time I'd have him next to me making me laugh.
About this time a year ago Jon and I were waking up to go to work. Jon had to leave about an hour earlier than me. When time came for me to head to work it was about 4am and still dark outside. I wasn't even half way there and I saw someone walking towards me, I knew it was him even though it was dark, he was dressed like everyone else and he was far away. I remember not being able to control my smile as I never could when I saw him approaching. He snuck me a kiss and walked me to work. I went on to get my truck ready for mission while he did the same. When his convoy was leaving out he came back over to me just to say "I love you". He promised as always, he would come back and he would stay safe. I watched him walk away, get in his truck and his convoy leave before returning to my own truck. And that was the last time I ever saw him.
Just 5 hours later, my life was changed for the worse. The belief that everything happens for a reason, and it's all in God's plan still holds no meaning to me. I guess I'm selfish to say what about my plan? What about our plans? What about the family we wanted? I was robbed of the deepest love I will ever know. Although in a few hours it will have been a year since I've seen him, the vision of him walking towards me is as clear as ever. I am still very much in love with him and very proud that Jon choose me to be his wife.
-Michelle Cadavero (February 26, 2008)
Leave your own memories & condolences of Sgt. Jonathan Cadavero.
