Thomas E. Retzer Obituary

You were the husband of my fathers cousin. Thank you for serving our country proudly. I'm doing a final school project for my 7th Grade English class on the Navy, and you are an example I am using of true bravery. Multiple of the requirement sections I am doing on you. You and my uncle are the two biggest inspirations in my life, even though I never knew you, that are helping me find the determination even deeper in my soul to enlist in the Navy when I come of age. Thank you, Tom. From my father, your wife, your family, and mine.

Hello,
We would like to express our deepest condolences and also let the Retzer Family and friends know that we will be sending Care Packages to troops in Iraq this week and we'll be dedicating several of these to your loved one. Each package will carry the name, photo and the hometown of Thomas E. Retzer US Navy Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class. We realize that this is a small tribute, but we do this with all respect and sincerity and we want you to know that it is made possible by thousands of like-minded individuals from across the American youth hockey community. We will not forget. May God Bless you and keep you strong.
Sincerely,
Charlie Gili & Family
On Behalf of the US Hockey Players Support Our Troops Campaign

In memory of Thomas Retzer.

We Love and Miss You, You will always be a Sweetheart of a Guy. Your Cousins Yvonne and Dan Fox

Together...We Will Not Forget...My name is Debbie Elam and I am the Chairman of the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project. Our group is making and presenting a numbered memorial quilt to the immediate family of each soldier killed in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror with ties to the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have a website at www.vmqp.com if you get a chance to see the quilts. We have sent 207 quilts as of this date. Please contact me via email or phone at 804-598-0465 and I will get the information from you so we can send you a Memorial Quilt in honor of your soldier. Thank you.
Debbie Elam, Chairman
Virginia Memorial Quilt Project
P. O. Box 534
Powhatan, VA 23139

June 25, 2011
To the family and friends of Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer:
Please accept my remembrance of Thomas on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.

To the family and friends of Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer:
Remembering Thomas 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

Memorial Day...you are remembered.

”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 the hero’s Mother, Father and/or spouse. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Almost 2,000 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!
This is a gift! We have some wonderful sponsors who help with the costs, and only want you know that we care.
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 God Bless You.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna

To the family of Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer:
Thomas 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

Not forgotten. Thank you.

It is difficult to know what to say since I want to express my sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Petty Officer 1st Cl Retzer. Please know that your loved one is not forgotten. I wish everyone impacted by this tragic loss strength and peace. I hope that Petty Officer 1st Cl Retzer knew that there are people in America who respect his great courage is serving as a member of the US military. Although I did not know him, I know that he must have been a very special person to be willing to do something that most Americans will never have to experience, and for that we can never say thank you enough.
Thank you Petty Officer 1st Cl Retzer!

To the family of Petty Officer 1st Class Retzer,
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.

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 Thomas, 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


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

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b

I want to express my sympathy to the family and friends of Petty Officer 1st Cl Retzer. Although most Americans will never experience your sacrifice, please know that there are many people who are truly sorry for your loss. May God bless you all.

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Petty Officer 1st Class Retzer!

My name is Debbie Elam and I am the Chairman for the Virginia Memorial Quilt Project. Our Volunteers would like to present the immediate family of each fallen soldier with ties to the State of Virginia with a numbered memorial quilt. Please contact me at the following:
Debbie Elam, Chairman
Virginia Memorial Quilt Project
2621 Linbrook Drive
Richmond, VA 23228
or you can call me at 804-379-3817 or email me at [email protected]. You can view our work on www.vmqp.com. We hope to hear from you soon! God Bless.

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 guestbook 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 (NY)

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Petty Officer 1st Cl Retzer and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

May God grant you peace. Thank You for your service in the name of freedom. I will keep you, and your family, in my prayers

My heartfelt sympathy to the Retzer family in the loss of Thomas. I did not know Thomas, 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. Thomas 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~

Remembering Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas E. Retzer, with a Multitude of Thanks for his Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom.

May Thomas rest in God's Loving Care and know that he will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

May God's Grace and Comfort, continue to be with the Retzer family.

From the sister of a Fallen young hero, who made the Ultimate Sacrifice in Vietnam. KIA~1967.



"As certain as that night succeeds the day, without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious."

~President George Washington



May the memories of your loved one live in your heart always.

He is a True hero to this Grateful American.

My condolences to the Retzer family.

Thomas may you rest in peace. Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. You have earned your golden halo and wings. May you continue to soar in the heavenly clouds up above.

Thank you for serving your country and for your sacrifice. You are truly a hero. May God grant your family peace and understand. Rest in Peace.