"A Dream with a purpose"...
1John 3:16 "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."
Our "Memorial Flag Pole", at our land in Chickaloon, HONORING Jessy, and ALL of our troops and their sacrafices for OUR FREEDOM.
At the time that we purchased our property in Chickaloon, we did not know then, that "our dream" would drastically change. It's not that our dreams, in themselves changed, but now our "purpose" behind those dreams were different.
On July 23, 2007', two military officers arrived at my front door, informing me, that my precious son PFC Jessy Scott Rogers was killed in action by a roadside IED, in Sarobi
Our home in Chickaloon Alaska, under construction, and the Chugach Mountains in the background.
Southeastern Afghanistan. Our 4 daughters, as well as our 2 youngest sons, and I, were staying in Juneau Alaska, for the summer. Dave and our oldest boys, were living in a work camp, in Fairbanks, while working on Ft. Wainwright military housing. I wanted a different change of scenery, and the "coast" really sounded good to me. I LOVE the ocean! We were even looking into Juneau as a summer place, and our Chickaloon property would be for winters. But on this particular evening, at exactly 10:00 pm, when the officers knocked on my apartment door, from that moment on, EVERYTHING changed! EVERYTHING!
These are our 438 steps, These are 4 of the 5 down
to the Matanuska Glacier River, "cabins" we've built, for our
to the hunting/guest children, and guests.
cabins below.
I invited the officers in, and then just sat there completely numb. I knew what was coming next..."Mrs. Rogers. We regret to inform you that your son PFC Jessy Scott Rogers, was killed by a roadside IED, early this morning, in Sarobi Southeastern Afghanistan." As I sat there holding my youngest son, Sonny D., I was struck absolutely speechless. The men were both extremely polite, and expressed their sorrow for my loss, and the "honor" that was given Jessy, for his "ultimate sacrafice" for our country and its people. After I composed myself enough to speak, I ask them for a more detailed explanation of the events that took place. They mentioned that there were 4 other men also in the vehicle, and that one was still alive but in critical condition. After hearing that, I couldnt seem to handle anymore information... I suppose it was shock, so they asked if there was anything they could do for me. They left their names, and contact numbers, and said that a "casualty officer" from Ft. Richardson, in Anchorage, would be contacting me in the morning. They showed themselves out, and I sat there crying, with little Sonny D. holding me close, tired and insecure from the strangers that were just in our home. I immediately called Dave and the boys in Fairbanks. Ricky answered the phone, and I just told him right out, that "Jessy was gone. He was dead. Killed by an IED explosion, early this morning". He then took the phone to Dave, and I basically repeated the same thing. Neither of us wanted to talk, so we hung up, and I then made a call to my mom in Texas. It was 1:00 am her time, so I hesitated, but knew I had the strength to do it right then, so I did. She said she would handle it from there, and pass the word to all the family. I then fell asleep totally exhausted...grieving for my precious son Jessy.
We moved directly back to our land after Jessys burial at Ft Richardson, on August 6th. I had absolutely NO desire to stay on our summer vacation in Juneau, any longer. In fact I COULDNT WAIT to get back to Chickaloon. Chickaloon represented "family". At that moment, I missed all my children GREATLY! With Jessys loss, I wanted all my familiar things around me. Our land in Chickaloon, was built by the ENTIRE family. I wanted to be there more than anything! I wanted to be right where all our first memories of Alaska had been made. I could just look around me, there on our bluff, and "feel" Jessys presence! This gave me considerable comfort. He had helped clear the land, build the cabins, and the 438 steps down to the river below, and the two cabins down there as well. I consider it all a "work of love" by ALL the kids, and I will never leave it.
This was the "turning point" for all of us, but especially me. I was the one who really wanted two places to live out the year. But, I NO LONGER wanted that...poof! The desire totally disappeared. I had my "ultimate dream" sitting right here in Chickaloon. But the "purpose" for the land had changed. Before, it would be built up as an inheritance for the kids...it still is. But now we'd like to design it as a "memorial" for Jessys sacrafice for his country, as well as all his buddies, and ALL the veterans... past, present, and future. A place for some real R&R! Those brave men and women, AND their families, NEED it...deserve it!
Dave and I laidout a diagram of our property, and how we wanted to design it for all our veterans. We also poured a huge concrete pillar, which a 20 ft flag pole is errected on., right out my front door, on the deck. It has the American flag on top, then the Alaska flag, followed by a 173rd Airborne Combat Brigade flag, that was given to us by the 173rd. Also at the "top" of our driveway, is another 20 foot flag pole, which holds... The American Flag, the Christian Flag, the "Never Will Be Forgotten" Flag ( a very sweet family gave this flag to us in honor of Jessys "ultimate sacrafice") and then the Alaska Flag. We have a place to put fresh flowers beneath it... It's beautiful!
Still under construction...
