Joseph Lee Schiro, Laid to Rest

It’s never easy to know how or where to begin such a report.  No words are ever adequate to express the sadness I feel whenever I attend the funeral of a fallen hero; it simply gets harder every time.  The day it starts getting easier is the day my heart turns to stone and I will have ceased to be human.

Did I actually know Joseph Lee Schiro or his family?  No, no I didn’t; and it just breaks my heart to have met even a few of them today, however briefly, under such circumstances.  However, Joseph, his wife and children, and all of his family are part of my bigger family; our bigger family, the family of Americans that love our country, that send our sons and daughters off to distant lands to do violence on our behalf on foreign shores, so that maybe it doesn’t make to our shores.  So that maybe we can go about our daily lives mostly unscathed.  Because of that, I share so much of their pain.  

A quick study of the highlights of Joseph Lee Schiro’s life tells the tale of a man, just starting out really, but one who loved his Lord, his family, and his country; so much so, that he didn’t hesitate to be on the front lines defending her during multiple tours of combat.  His list of military citations include (3) Bronze Stars, (1) Purple Heart, (2) Army Commendation Medals, and a long list of others.  

It doesn’t end there by any means, and this is merely a glimpse of what he was made of.  He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, friend, and neighbor.  He was an outstanding athlete and cyclist; an intellectual and a member of Mensa, and he was the kind of guy that everyone just wanted to know and be around.  

As I said before, I never did get the chance to meet Joseph, however, every time I look my own son or any other veteran in the face, I’ll see him, as I see so many of our other brave men and women that have made the ultimate sacrifice.  I do so look forward to meeting Joseph Lee Schiro with his family one day in Heaven and thanking him for keeping us safe through a very rough season in our nation’s history.  

Until then; rest in peace Soldier, job well done.  Walk arm and arm with our Lord, and smile on us as we keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

To the family, friends, and loved ones of this amazing young man and hero, The Patriots Press joins our community and nation in deep sadness over your loss.  May you all be comforted by the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father until the joyous day that you are reunited with Joseph.