Imagery: Singles: 2000 dead in Iraq series - Jesse W. Strong - morning prayer

10/7/05 -- Albany, VT (or Irasburg, VT - depending on mailing address or municipal consideration) -- Vicki Strong crumples into tears after her morning prayer time. Her son, Marine Sgt. Jesse W. Strong, who was shipped overseas to fight in Iraq over a year ago, was was killed in a roadside attack during an explosives disarmament mission in northwest Bagdad on January 26, 2005. Since his deployment, the 30 minutes she spends each morning reading her bible has taken on more significance, and is often the time she still cries each day. Vicki still works in the {quote}Anxiety Garden{quote} that she planted when Jesse shipped out and in it she places plants and flags given to her by people wishing to commemorate Jesse's life and console the Strong's loss. This is one of the things she does to cope with her grief. She also spends hours each day responding to the estimated 1,000 letters and cards they received after Jesse's death. Vicki also walks every day down a pastoral stretch of gravel road near their home, and is joined every other day by her husband, Pastor Nathan Strong. The Strongs are steadfast in their faith in God and their belief that the war effort is dutiful and just. They don't follow the details of the war as it enters its third year, though complain that critics of the war, such as Andy Rooney during his 60-Minutes commentary, don't have all the facts. Vicki said of her son: {quote}When Jesse became a Marine, I was the proudest mother on Parris Island that ever was. I realistically never thought he'd be in harm's way.{quote} Of his death, she said: {quote}We never lost peace. There was never dispair and never any darkness. Our son was a strong Christian and I know that he is with Jesus. There was nothing left unsaid and not a moment of regret.{quote} She said of the meaning of his death: {quote}I know for sure Jesse's life wasn't in vain. I have never forgotten September 11 for a second.{quote} Pastor Nathan Strong, Jesse's father said, {quote} I could care less what other people thi
2000 dead in Iraq series - Jesse W. Strong - morning prayer

10/7/05 -- Albany, VT (or Irasburg, VT - depending on mailing address or municipal consideration) -- Vicki Strong crumples into tears after her morning prayer time. Her son, Marine Sgt. Jesse W. Strong, who was shipped overseas to fight in Iraq over a year ago, was was killed in a roadside attack during an explosives disarmament mission in northwest Bagdad on January 26, 2005. Since his deployment, the 30 minutes she spends each morning reading her bible has taken on more significance, and is often the time she still cries each day. Vicki still works in the "Anxiety Garden" that she planted when Jesse shipped out and in it she places plants and flags given to her by people wishing to commemorate Jesse's life and console the Strong's loss. This is one of the things she does to cope with her grief. She also spends hours each day responding to the estimated 1,000 letters and cards they received after Jesse's death. Vicki also walks every day down a pastoral stretch of gravel road near their home, and is joined every other day by her husband, Pastor Nathan Strong. The Strongs are steadfast in their faith in God and their belief that the war effort is dutiful and just. They don't follow the details of the war as it enters its third year, though complain that critics of the war, such as Andy Rooney during his 60-Minutes commentary, don't have all the facts. Vicki said of her son: "When Jesse became a Marine, I was the proudest mother on Parris Island that ever was. I realistically never thought he'd be in harm's way." Of his death, she said: "We never lost peace. There was never dispair and never any darkness. Our son was a strong Christian and I know that he is with Jesus. There was nothing left unsaid and not a moment of regret." She said of the meaning of his death: "I know for sure Jesse's life wasn't in vain. I have never forgotten September 11 for a second." Pastor Nathan Strong, Jesse's father said, " I could care less what other people thi