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Jeremy Ridlen Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Jeremy Ridlen
Jon Kirchoff
May 30, 2016
Hello to the family of Army Spcl. Jeremy Ridlen. My name is Jon Kirchoff. Today is Memorial Day 2016. I road my Harley Davidson in an event today called West Coast Thunder. I wore Jeremy's dog tags to honor him and what he sacrificed for our nation. I was proud to wear Jeremy's Dog tags. I just wanted to write and let you know that he is not forgotten.
Jon Kirchoff
Riverside, California
L Neal
June 1, 2011
To the family of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen:
Please know that just as your loved one remains in your hearts and minds; his sacrifice, and that of your family, remains with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God bless and keep you always.
Joyce Cook
May 24, 2011
To the Family of Jeremy L Ridlen:
My Thoughts and Prayers are with you on you brother/Son's anniversary of his passing - We will never forget what he did for us all and we will always miss him very much!!
Peggy Childers
May 23, 2011
To the family and friends of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen:
Please accept my remembrance of Jeremy on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.
Peggy Childers
May 23, 2010
To the family and friends of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen:
Remembering Jeremy on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org
Kenna Larra
October 12, 2009
”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,800 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Mothers and/or Fathers, of our heroes, please be aware that the Project Compassion sponsors will now help cover the costs of the portraits for you to have one - regardless if the spouse of the hero has one or not!
Contact us directly at [email protected]. or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and bless you.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna
Project Compassion
P.O. Box 153
Manti, Utah 84642
Tina Ridlen
June 28, 2009
My last name is Ridlen. I was just looking up my ancestors and look @ this!
Peggy Childers
May 24, 2009
To the family of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen:
Jeremy gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org
Pastor Frank Noyes
September 16, 2008
Dear family of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen,
We want to say thank you. We understand that no words can be adequate for your sorrow. We certainly do not want to intrude upon your privacy. As Americans we want you to know that we deeply appreciate the ultimate sacrifice your loved one has made for all of us. We also would like for you to be aware that with this letter comes our special concern and prayers for you. We are all safer because young men and women who love their country, and know the value of a free nation, are willing to put themselves in harms way, and lay down their lives to keep this nation free and safe for all of us.
Your sacrifice is also very great. We know that we can give little comfort; however, the knowledge that your loved one did not die in vain, but died in the service of our country, gives each of us a noble example of the value of life, and the responsibility of freedom. We hope this will bring pride and comfort to you.
We at Gethsemane Church believe that there is purpose to life. We send this letter with our deepest appreciation for the greatest of sacrifices, you and your loved one have given to this country. We know it is not enough, but please allow us to assure you that your loved one is not forgotten.
Very Sincerely
Frank G. Noyes
Frank G. Noyes (Pastor)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(Jn. 15:13)
Teri Johnson
May 26, 2008
I cannot believe it has been 4 years. Some days the pain of losing Jeremy seems so fresh. I don't know where or when this war will end, but I pray it will be soon. May God continue to be with each soldier and their family who are still serving. Jeremy, your family loves you so much. Thank you for paying the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
Cousin, Teri
Paula Young
May 25, 2008
Your precious Jeremy is remembered today and always.
Hugs,
Paula Young (Montreal)
The Neal family
May 25, 2008
To the family of Spc. Ridlen,
Please know that just as your loved one will remain in your hearts and minds, his sacrifice and that of your family, will remain with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God grant you the peace that passes all understanding.
In Memory of Jeremy ~ (Debra Estep)
May 23, 2008
Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.
The Wind on The Downs
“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”
(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )
Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….
“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”
I did not know Jeremy, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Other Side
i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.
can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.
i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.
it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.
i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side
the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.
i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.
Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)
“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008
Visit this link to hear the song.
The Other Side –
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol
Sincerely,
Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom and MIL
Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55
Please contact me and I will email you back a copy of my
Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
April 5, 2008
You are remembered and respected. Thank you Spc Ridlen!
Tom Gugliuzza
December 30, 2007
My heartfelt sympathy to the Ridlen family in the loss of Jeremy. I did not know Jeremy, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. My heart was touched by the many wonderful/beautiful things written about you. Jeremy it has been over 3 years since you were taken. Please know that you are my hero and you will NEVER be forgotten.
I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.
Love and Peace
Tom
"To live in the hearts
of those you leave behind
is never to die"
~Robert Orr~
Bruce Ridlen
October 2, 2007
Mr and Mrs Ridlen: I have thought of you often, but never taken the time to contact you before now. I currently serve in the US Army, and was also deployed to Iraq. Just south of Baghdad, on the Liberty/Victory complex, is a street sign with our name on it. I believe it was named after Jeremy. Although I don't know any of you, we share the same last name. And, based on discussions of my heritage with my father, I am certain we are distantly related. I tried to get to Baghdad to see the sign, but never made it. I do have a photo somewhere that was taken by a friend who found it for me. I would enjoy hearing from you if you feel like contacting me. I am very proud of Jeremy and his brother, who also chose to serve their country the same as I and a few of our ancestors. I often think of Jeremy and the many other soldiers who gave all they had to the service of our nation. I can only imagine the sorrow of losing a son, but please don’t feel he died in vain. There is a courage beyond comprehension in each Soldier I have met, and a sense of duty that far exceeds the apprehension of combat.
August 2, 2007
If this person can stand in battle to ensure my freedom, then I will stand in grief with his/her family to honor him/her. For every fallen HERO there is a bright star that shines in the evening sky to remind us of the cherished gift we were given – even if for too short a time.
My heart breaks again as I sign yet another guest book of another courageous young soldier who gave their life so selflessly. I wish I never found myself in a position to have to sign another guest book for the rest of my life, but I promised LE RON A. WILSON (a dear friend KIA 7/6/07, 18yrs old) that neither he nor any like him would be forgotten and so I will continue until the day there is no longer the need.
PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)
July 10, 2007
Thank you for the sacrifice made by Spc Ridlen and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!
Garnet Jenkins
May 23, 2007
May the Peace of God and your precious memories of Spc. Jeremy L. Ridlen, remain in your heart always.
Please know how deeply sorry I was, to learn of the loss of your Brave Young Soldier.
A Multitude of Thanks, for Jeremy's Courage, Dedication and Service to our Country and for Freedom. And may God Bless and be with Jeremy's brother Jason, as well as each of Jeremy's loved ones.
Those who Made this Ultimate Sacrifice, So Many and So Young, shall Never Be Forgotten, my brother among them. Killed in action in Vietnam in 1967.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Bruce Robertson
March 17, 2007
Mr. & Mrs. Ridlen,
Of course I don't know you and I certainly didn't know your son. But, I wanted you to know that, nearly three years after your son was killed in Iraq, I will be carrying a poster-plaque bearing his name during a Memorial March in downtown Albany, New York.
I have gathered as much information about Jeremy as is available online . . . I will honor his spirit as I join the many thousands of other marchers who will be carrying similar memorial poster signs in this, the fifth anniversary of the start of the invasion.
Bruce
Carolyn Evans
February 17, 2006
Always Our Hero. Gold Star Mother (1991)
Paula Young
June 10, 2004
Ed... I'm so sorry to hear about your precious son, Jeremy. I'm overwhelmed with sadness for you and your family - I really don't know what to say. At times like these everything seems so unimportant in comparison. And words, well, they're just words and they just don't seem special enough.
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
The Rhoads Family
June 3, 2004
Our deepest sincere sympathy to your family at this time of tragic loss, and in the time to come. The news article told what a truly fine man Jeremy is, and we know your loss will be hard to bear. God bless and comfort each of you in the special ways He knows you need comforted. Gordon, Mary, Ned & Christie Rhoads and Tena Rhoads Culver.
Don Dukeman
June 1, 2004
Even though I didn't know Jeremy my heart goes out to your family. I spent 2 tours in Vietnam in the 60's and every service person that passes is like a member of a select family. God bless you...Don Dukeman
Steve Reid
May 31, 2004
Ed,
It has been a long time since we last spoke. I think of old friends often. We take with us always, the memories of our children when they are away and should they not return, the Lord will be with them everyday. My condolences to you and your family Ed.
Karen (Bart) Murray
May 31, 2004
To the Ridlen Family: I was so shocked to hear about your loss of Jeremy. It seems like only yesterday that the kids came home with Keith and Kurt to Chestnut to spend the afternoon after church to play. I really enjoyed those times and have missed them. You are all in my prayers and my thoughts and if I can be of any help please contact me. May the Lord be with you at this time and comfort you.
Theresa Tynan
May 31, 2004
We are praying for you and so are our friends at Riverside Baptist Church in Decatur. We especially have fond memories of Jeremy when he played baseball with our son, on my husband, Larry's baseball team several years ago. The Ridlen boys were always willing to do what was asked of them. John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Even though we have not kept closely in touch, we consider the Ridlen family our friends AND our friends in the family of God. Our prayers are with you.
Bill Ellis
May 31, 2004
To all the Ridlen family: Kitty and I think of you daily. We have precious memories of the Ridlen family during the time I was pastor at Peoples Church of God in Decatur, IL. Sorry Kitty & I are not able to be with you at this time. Be assure of our prayers daily.
Julie Auton
May 30, 2004
I am so sorry for your loss. As a mother of twins, I can't imagine the pain of losing one of them, but I hope it is comforting to know he is in God's hands now. Thank you for giving your son to save the lives of those left behind. His memory will live forever.
Laura Walters
May 30, 2004
Your son/brother has paid the ultimate price for our freedom - We would like to thank him for his bravery, courage and for our safety - May you all find peace in the days and years to come - Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time in your lives - God Bless America!
Alfred Ellis
May 30, 2004
This is a sad time for us all that are close to the Ridlen family. Although we know the risks of war, it is still a heavy burden to bare, when we loose a loved one. My heart goes out to the Ridlen family. Jeremy will always be a hero in my eyes, because he gave his life fighting for his beliefs and the beliefs of his country.
Ingram Paula
May 30, 2004
I was so sorry to hear of Jeremy's passing. Myself and my husband had the pleasure of working with both Jeremy and Jason at Wal-mart in Normal. They are both such a delight to work with and be around. Jeremy was such a go-getter and wonderful with all the customers. He was always willing to help out, no matter what. He will be greatly missed by everyone he knew. My heart and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.
Angie Rafferty
May 30, 2004
I am so very sorry for the loss of Jeremy. I am the daughter of Sharon Marsh, your cousin. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
RICK BERG
May 30, 2004
MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL,MAY HE HOLD YOU AND COMFORT YOU AS I KNOW YOUR ALL HURTING.I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL,IN YOUR SERVICE TO PRESERVE THE PROTECTION AND FREEDOM OF OURS HERE AT HOME AND OTHERS OVERSEAS AND ABROAD.GOD BLESS. RICK BERG
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