My students and I were discussing the Holocaust today and one of my sixth graders, who can't seem to wrap his mind around the horrors of World War II, made the following statement..."People should really be thankful we have soldiers that go to protect us anywhere in the world...that helps me sleep better at night Miss Fragozo..." Thanks Jonny....
-Yanivis Fragozo (May 18, 2010)
Every day is difficult, but there are certain days of the year when life is harder than usual. Mother's Day is one of those hard days. Although I received numerous calls from former students, flowers from various people (including Jon's widow) there's always that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something/someone is missing. JON. He made me feel loved & appreciated every day of the year but on Mother's Day he always would go the extra mile. Even when he was far from home he would call, send a card and, of course, flowers. To him, it wasn't just about Mother's Day.......it was about showing appreciation to the people in his life & letting them know he loved them.
Somebody said it takes about 6 weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby....somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history. Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct....somebody never took a 3 year old shopping. Sombody said being a mother is boring......somebody never rode a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will turn out good....somebody thinks a child comes with directions & a guarantee. Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother......somebody never helped a 4th grader with his math. Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first......somebody doesn't have 2 children. Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married....somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings. Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor & delivery.....somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten......or on a van headed for military "boot camp".......or on a plane headed for war.
Sombody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...........somebody has never been a mother. You don't stop being a mother because your children have reached a certain age. You're always a mom....in life and death. the love & bond remains forever.
Missing Jon every day. My love & thoughts are with him always. Mom
-Nadia Cadavero (May 18, 2010)
I first met Jon when i got to the unit before we deployed he was giving a combat life saver class. I walked up to him and started talkin to him and noticed he was a real good guy that knew his stuff.I also remember when we first got to Iraq we were living in tents, he came up to me and sat down across from me while i was playing with the camrea i had just got. I took a pick of him and he kinda had this wude eyed look on his face. He was always smiling and always in a good mood. I can never forget when he got back to Iraq after R&R I was on the PSD team and saw him one day when i was walkin to the chow hall he came up to me and told me that he had got married while he was on leave I told him congrats and then we talked for a bit. I only got to see him a few more times before he was taken away but i remember every moment that i spent talking to him and will remember them forever I miss u man it is hard to belive that it has been 3 years but keep on looking out for us old buddy
-SPC Steven Foreman (April 7, 2010)
AFTER READING ABOVE CONDOLENCES, I AM TOUCHED AND GRIEVED AND MAY GOD GRANT YOU PEACE THAT HE ALONE CAN GIVE. OUR LOVE AND GOD BLESS. 610-453-3980
-TOM FRANCIS (April 1, 2010)
Jon, my husband and I met your sister last night at a Patriots' meeting in New York. Even today tears for you fill her eyes when she speaks of you. She has come to New York to help us in our fight for Liberty of the land we love. The same land you fought and died for. I think that not only does she do it for this Great Nation of the United States of America but I'm sure she does it so that you will not have died in vain. My condolences and thank you to the Cadavero Family and the sacrifice you've made for this country.
-Marianne Hart (March 28, 2010)
Today, 3 years ago, was Jon's funeral. As we sat by his gravesite, I thought of the following words:
"Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours, or days. All the things you collected, whether treasures or baubles will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame, temporal power, will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to do lists will expire. The wins & losses that once seemed important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender or skin color will be irrelevent.
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your significance.
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competance, but your character.
What will matter is not how many people you knew but how many people will feel a lasting loss when you are gone.
What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you.
What will matter is not how long you will be remembered by who and for what.
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice."
Jon lived a life that mattered. He gave all he had, he showed compassion, kindness and love to those around him. His integrity and character was of utmost importance to him. The life he lived was by choice.
Thank you Jon for all you left behind - for the wonderful memories that continue to live on in all those who knew & loved you.
Thinking of Jon all the time. Missing him every day - but especially today. Love you son. Forever & always. Mom
-Nadia Cadavero (March 9, 2010)
Reading your message above Nadia, on Jons anniversary reminded me of my Mom. She lost a daughter, my sister, who was two yrs younger than me. Today still, Mom brings up Janine often, even tho my sister was only with us for 2 yrs. Janine is never far from my mothers lips to be spoken about in a loving and missing tone, and in all of our thoughts often.
I continue, as a neighbor and friend, think of Jon often, I thought about him a few days prior to his anniversary knowing the day was coming... and of course on the day of. thinking of how you all felt too.... sending prayers to you all. I thank you for your message above sharing another memory of Jon with the snow. He remains in my thoughts, prayers and I'm ever grateful I was able to get to know him a little bit and watch him grow up in the neighborhood. Every time I saw him, he exuded such a positive, uplifting energy. Bringing a smile to one's face! He is missed by many.
-Corinne (March 2, 2010)
An anniversary usually is a time to celebrate but this 3rd anniversay of Jon's death leaves nothing to celebrate about. A highly emotional day filled with many memories and really, a day of remembrance for a very special young man, my son.
Due to a Nor'easter which dumped at least 3 feet of snow it was impossible to even get to the cemetery today, place flowers and pay respect to a beloved son, brother, nephew, and friend. But rest assured Jon was on our minds all day long. Shoveling snow for the last several day made me think of the blizzard of 1996. The snow was so deep but there was Jon jumping from the balcony into snow drifts and just having a blast! After having all this fun he would, of course, get "serious" and then shovel for hours to clear the driveway etc. Thinking of Jon & all the fun he had in past winters & snow storms make shoveling this time around more tolerable.
I was moved beyond words by the outpouring of love from family, friends, neighbors and even strangers who rememtered this day by calling, sending cards or cookies, and helping us shovel our driveway "in honor of Jon." It still amazes me that in his short life Jon had such a positive and lasting impact on the people he knew & met. I am so proud to have been his mother.
Not understanding what it is to lose a child and the devastating hole in leaves in your heart & soul, people have made remarks that are incomprehensible to me. People seem to think that after 3 years all wounds should be "healed."
Have I "gotten over" losing my son? Never. Do I still cry? Everyday. Am I still mourning? For the rest of my life. Do I miss him? More today than ever before.
Though Jon was taken from me (us), my beloved son lives on............ Although Jon is now beyond the reach of my arms, he will always be within the embrace of my never-ending love.
Rest in peace. Mom
-Nadia Cadavero (February 27, 2010)
On this third anniversary marked by Jon's family, friends, and the many lives he touched during his short life, it should be noted that Jonny truly epitomized a famous Abraham Lincoln quote:
"Live a good life. And in the end, it is not the years in a life, but the life in the years."
Jon will always be terribly missed, but we are grateful that his legacy lives on. May he be resting in peace and joined with angels in eternity.
-Debra Valle (cousin) and Family (February 27, 2010)
Doc, it has been three years now. That deployment seems so long ago, and yet your memory is still so fresh. Thank you for your example. Few are the people of your influence in the world. My memories of you, Sou and Henry are very fond and the sacrifice that you made has caused me to be a better Soldier, leader, Husband and Father. I have approached every day differently during my current deployment because of your sacrifice. There has been great change and peaceful success in Iraq since last time. You are big part of this success. Thank you! -Until we meet on the other side
-Dan Patterson (February 26, 2010)
Leave your own memories & condolences of Sgt. Jonathan Cadavero.
