Gina R. Sparks Obituary

A True American Hero
God bless

Thinking of you often and knowing you are watching over us all. To my best friend, Happy Birthday.

While we dropped to the ground, you and your fellow soldiers ran to protect us. Thank you Gina. You will always be remembered.

SSG Sparks, I hope you are resting peacefully! Larry, I am so sorry for your loss and that you missed her funeral. I was on rear-d rehabbing for two more months and then joined the unit in Iraq, so I escorted the rear D Command Element north to her funeral. I know it doesn't do much now but she was treated with a tremendous amount of respect and we all shed a lot of tears on that trip. She was a great lady and leader. The burial process was honorable from what I saw. Take care.

I met Gina while she was stationed at Ft. Leavenworth. She was a wonderful person, full of energy and excitement. I had learned several years ago of her death, but just today saw this website. I do think of her often, and want her family and friends to know she is not forgotten, and is loved and remembered by many.

Only but a very few will know me, two of them is my sons and others are those I had met in my past while in the Army.
It is always about this time my chest feels tight and heavy, not because I have a cold or I am sick but I believe psychologically I am reminded of a love and friend long gone, a friend and love that was taken way to early!
I remember that day as if it was yesterday. Gina was brought to my ICU in Baghdad, Iraq in 2004. She was sick; I could see it in her eyes that she was not feeling well. Co-workers told me that my ex-wife was admitted to my floor. I went to see her; she lay in the first bed next to the entrance door of the area I worked. We looked at each other, I held her hand and we talked quietly for a long time. I left her to sleep and next day we met again, she was getting ready to fly out that night, we stepped outside and talked some more as she smoked a cig. We talked about our past and she asked for forgiveness, I told her there is nothing to forgive for back then we were young, we made our mistakes and we learned. I told her that she was always on my mind; no matter where I was she was always in a way with me. First love is always hard to let go and most of all to forget.
I believe we met at that time for a reason; we didn't need closure like everyone says. I think she was there to say good bye one last time.
About a month later; I had this feeling in my chest; the kind of feeling that I had when my father was admitted to the hospital, the day I was coming back from a field training exercise. I received a Red Cross message saying that he was very ill and in the hospital. The next day he passed away. It was same with Gina, I had that feeling, I called my sons that very day and they told me that their mother had passed away. That gut wrenching feeling, the feeling of emptiness in your chest, the feeling that your world is gone.
It took so long to get me home from Iraq, I had missed her funeral. I went to her grave site and looked at the stone that is now in place as reminder of who lies there. I placed upon it my purple heart I had received earlier that year to tell her she still has my heart.
I miss you so!

To the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Gina R. Sparks:
Please accept my remembrance of Gina on the anniversary of her passing and know that she will never be forgotten.

I miss Gina. We spent some wild and some tough times together, when we were in nursing school. I think of her so often, even though we only had a year together. I gave her my most prized possession so we could stay close. She has a permanent place in my heart.

My mother; how I miss you so and I hope to see you in the next life.

Miss you and love you always.

To the family and friends of Staff Sgt. Gina R. Sparks:
Remembering Gina on the anniversary of her passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

To the family of Staff Sgt. Gina R. Sparks:
i would just like to thank you for serving and fighting for our country!
love ya!

Thanks a ton!!

To the family of Staff Sgt. Gina R. Sparks:
Gina 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

”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 1,750 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!
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

You were an amazing nurse and a wonderful person. I miss you.

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Staff Sgt Sparks!

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Staff Sgt Sparks and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses her! May God bless all of you!!

My heart is heavy as I think of your family in this time of loss, and thankful for your loved one’s courage and sacrifice. You are in my prayers as I ask God to bring you peace and comfort. We will not forget.

May God bless Gina's family. We're not related in name, but in our hearts...In memory of my son: Sgt. N.Lane Tollett US Army 82nd Airborne 1/504 PIR. kia Apr. 28,2007 Bagdad,Iraq

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF YOUR GREAT LOSS AND WISH TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES. PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO DO CARE. HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR TREASURED MEMORIES THAT HER BEAUTIFUL SMILE MAY CONTINUE TO SHINE. I PRAY THAT PEACE WILL FIND YOU ALL SOMEDAY. GODSPEED AND SEMPER FI.

A PROUD MARINE MOM

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

As the mother of a son (my only child) who is enlisted in the Army, I want to send my condolences.

To the Family and Friends of this Soldier:
I will stand in grief with this soldier's family to honor him. 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 Brent that neither he nor any like him would be forgotten and so I will continue until the day there is no longer the need.
We lost our son SFC Brent A. Adams on 12/1/05 and it seems like yesterday. I wish so badly there were things I could say to you right now to make the pain you are feeling go away, but I know first hand there simply are no words that will bring you the comfort and peace your heart aches for. Just know that you are not alone. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you all as you go through this tragedy moment by moment and as you mourn this loss.
We don't know each other, will probably never meet, but will forever be united in the loss of our Heroes. We have, unfortunately joined a group none of us wanted to join, an ever-growing group of families in this situation. May God grant you peace and strength to get through this and be able once again to smile at a memory rather than have only the tears that flow so easily now. To be so proud of your loved one and so saddened at the same time is a mix of emotions very difficult to deal with as our hearts both burst with pride and pain together.
I am sorry that I never knew your soldier personally. While they can never be replaced, neither will they ever be forgotten. You must trust that sometime, someday the loving memories you have will help to sustain you and help you go on. This courageous soldier will forever be your Angel watching over you all for the rest of your lives. It's what brings me some measure of peace and comfort and I hope it will you as well.
To her family and friends in pain, I offer this comfort: When you find yourself in that dark sorrowful place, think not only of how you will miss her, but instead recall the years, days, hours and minutes gifted to you by her presence. The one thing that cannot be taken from you is your wonderful memories that now will mean more than ever.
If you ever want to talk, I'm only an e:mail away and would love for you to tell me more about your Hero.
God Bless this soldier and family who gave all and God Bless legacy.com for setting up this site where families can so quickly share their condolences and prayers with others like themselves.
Proud Parents of SFC Brent A. Adams, KIA, 12/1/05, Ramadi, Iraq
Pam and Bill Adams, Lancaster, PA

REST IN PEACE GINA, TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS HOLD CLOSE TO YOUR HEART ALL THE MEMORIES MAY THEY BRING YOU COMFORT

Staff Sgt. Gina Sparks
you are my hero
may god keep you in his arms forever.

Dear Sparks family,
Im truly sorry for your loss. I send my deepest sympathy and condolences. Your family is in my heart, prayers, and thoughts.

Dear Gina,
Thank you for protecting and serving our country. You are a true american hero.
May you rest peacefully in heaven

It is with the deep sadness that I ask Gina's family and friends to accept the offer of my most sincere and heart felt condolences. I hope that you know that your loss is shared and mourned by millions of Americans. Most of whom you don’t know and in all probability will never meet. We sincerely appreciate the sacrifices made by your patriot.

Freedom is not free; it is paid for by our heroes and for those who fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know! This soldier made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

I know the pain parents feel when they loose a child. I lost a son 19 years ago. It is a pain that defies description. It is a pain that never goes away. It is a pain that will never end. It is a pain that is all consuming.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

May God Bless and keep you today, tomorrow and forever!

Rest in Peace brave soldier; you did your duty with great honor, dedication, distinction and in the highest traditions of our great country.

Semper Fidelis

I am deeply sorry to learn of the loss of Staff Sgt. Gina R. Sparks, a Multitude of Thanks, for this Young Heroine's Courage, Dedication and Service to our Country and for Freedom.

May Gina Rest Safely in God's Loving Care and may the Peace of God continue to be with the Sparks family.
Those who Made these Sacrifices, So Many and So Young, shall Never Be Forgotten, my brother among them. KIA-Vietnam 1967.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills-
from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:1-2

I am sincerely hoping that you continue to feel the thoughts of Caring and Support that surround you each day, as this Country Remembers Someone Very Precious to you, who is a Hero to all of us.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.