I am so proud, I could just burst. For eight years now we have been raising two of our grandchildren.

In 2007, the oldest graduated high school. The summer between his junior and senior year of high school, he went to Basic Training for the Army at Fort Jackson, SC. In August of 2007, he left for AIT at Fort Eustis. VA, where he is studying helicopter mechanics. He was able to come for Christmas holiday, and returns to VA on January 02.

On New Year's Eve, he went to a friend's house, to shower and get ready to start making plans with his friends to celebrate New Years Eve. He had just finished shaving when a loud boom was heard throughout the neighborhood. When they went outside, the garage apartment across the street had exploded, the wall had blown out and was atop the boat and truck below. Aaron could see the occupant still in the apartment. His daughter who lives in the house downstairs, was coming down the stairs as Aaron was running across the street. When he reached the yard, she said the door was locked and she could not get in. Without stopping, Aaron ran up the stairs, kicked in the door and helped the man down the stairs. The man suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his face and hands, and had to be airlifted to the Galveston (TX) burn unit.

Aaron is now 19 years old and in some ways still a child to me, but yesterday he showed me the man he has become. I always told him he thought of himself as 10 feet tall and bullet proof. I guess he really is. With so much negative press about our young people today, it amazes me that they can still prove how compassionate and thoughtful and selfless they can be when faced with certain situations.

I am so proud, I want the whole world to know about PV2 Aaron Sheffield, and what heroes our military are, on and off the battle field.

Thank you God for letting me be a part in the raising of this fine young man.