Thirteen months ago on a warm, sunny August day, a small congregation gathered in a quaint, country church nestled between two cornfields in Deshler, Ohio. The guests listened intently to a sermon entitled "God gives good gifts".
The message was received whole-heartedly by two specific individuals, Kevin and I, as it was our wedding day. I know it seems contradictory to say this, as Kevin was taken from us, in our eyes, too soon. But god really does give good gifts, and I think Kevin was put on this earth for forty-two years to teach US a thing or two…..
I know what many of you who knew Kevin are thinking, "What could I learn from that frugal, furry, farmer?"
Kevin's mom summed it up the best when she said, "Kevin believed in God, family, country, and airplanes". In that order. A great example is from this past April. It was April 29th, a Sunday on the last drill weekend before the 180th left for Iraq. Kevin's niece and nephew were being confirmed at our church, and he really wanted to attend. Kev was also the pilot in charge of leading the mission to Iraq, so he needed to be present at drill. Without hesitation, Kev drove in the opposite direction to church to see his niece and nephew confirmed. He then drove over 35 miles all the way to the base and attended meetings as the mission commander. After that, he stopped at Oak Openings Park to pick up my son, and drove another 40+ miles back to Henry County to attend the confirmation celebration. Finally, after Carson and I were asleep, he paid farm elevator bills and planned for the spring planting of corn and soybeans.
He did it all with a smile on his face. He was doing what he loved….. worshiping god, loving his family, and honoring his country.
Many of you know that Kev's call sign is "Sonny". I thought it was because he was always so happy. The pilots laugh, as they didn't see this side like his family and I did. When Kev was farming with his father, attending family celebrations like bonfires and pizza nights, he was the happiest man on the planet. I am honored to be a part of a family like I have never seen before. When the Sonnenberg's are together, it's as if the rest of the world stops and the troubles of every day life disappear. God certainly gave us Kevin to teach us about family and how to love the people we care about.
As I was taking my son to school yesterday, the song "If tomorrow never comes" by Garth Brooks came on the radio. The chorus says, "If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her. Did I try in every way, to show her every day, that she's my only one? If my time on earth were through, she might face this world without me. Is the love I gave her in the past, going to be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes?
I say yes. Every moment Kevin gave me was a gift, and even though his time on earth is through, I can honestly say that we loved each other every day like it was our last. We never took each other for granted, and we can look back at our time together with no regrets. Kevin may have loved me for a short time, but it is the kind of love that will last forever. God certainly gave ME this gift.
The pilots used to tease Kevin for his affection. But he never worried about what others thought of him. Take it or leave it….. he was a down home country boy from Henry county….. and you loved him because he was real. If you ever have the urge to drive out to God's Country (as Kev used to say) stop in a corn field and pause….. you can hear his laugh, and you can see him smile.
With all of this devotion to our family, Kev still made time for his Stinger family. One night shortly before leaving for Iraq, Kevin told me straight out, "I love being a fighter pilot". That was the only time I ever heard him say it, but I always knew it was true. He loved the Stinger family like his own. He valued everyone for who they were, and what they stood for. Flying was a dream come true for Kevin, and what he loved the most about it was the people he was flying with. God obviously gave us good gifts when he gave us the men and women of the 180th.
Please let me honor the men and women from the 180th who have supported the Sonnenberg family and friends.
Lt. Col Steve Nordhaus who has served as the family liaison with the military. Even with five children and an important military mission, he has been our "go to guy" for the past three months.
Lt. Col Nordhaus also helped to orchestrate the largest funeral in Henry County History. For those who missed it, Sonny would have been shaking his head, as we really did have port - o - potties and closed circuit TV. Together with Lt. Col Nordhaus, Sonny's dear friends Lt. Col Tony Iannucci, Major Scott Kreinbrink, Lt. Col Bob Decker, Major Becky Ohm, Capt. Jim Stevenson and many others, they planned the most distinct funeral most people have ever witnessed.
The Sonnenberg family and I also recognize the brave soldiers from the 180th who were in Iraq, who continued to fight the war on terror even after they lost their brother. Major Brad Glanz who led the flight that fateful night, the 112th fighter squadron pilots who had to fly after only 12 hours of relief, Major Jim Dettinger and Lt. Col Scott Reed who spoke in Balad to honor Kev at the memorial, and the squadron commander Lt. Col Scott Reed who had to lead even after the loss of one of their own, and the dedicated crew chiefs and maintenance staff who had to continue with confidence. Please let me thank all of you, for your bravery, courage, and commitment.
In addition, please let me acknowledge all of the pilots and their wives for their never-ending support to me. Some of them have the opportunity to share in fun activities with me like dinner, shopping, boating, and lounging by the pool. Others have had less than desirable tasks like cooking, cleaning the garage, rebuilding my deck in 94 degree heat, paying bills, babysitting my six-year-old, attending long meetings, and cleaning my toilets! I will be forever grateful for their undying commitment to Sonny. He would be so proud.
I would like to acknowledge the Springfield, Ohio pilots who participated in the flyby at the funeral, and the Rickenbacker Unit for transporting our Sonny home to us. This kind of patriotism and devotion is what keeps me going when the grief seems unbearable.
Please allow me to recognize the politicians and military officials for their support. Thank you to Mr. Dustman, Representative Kaptur, General Feucht, General Wayt, Col Bartman, Lt. Col Allan and Col. Newell. The Sonnenberg family is truly thankful for your commitment to the 180th and the Ohio National Guard.
It is with great honor that I recognize my husband for his bravery and commitment to our country. He believed in his mission, and his family and I continue to support the War on Terror so people like my son and I can live in the land of the free.
On behalf of the entire Sonnenberg Family……
Thank god for Kevin, our Stinger family and friends, and for men and women just like you who protect our freedom every second of every day. Thank you and God Bless AMERICA.
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