Alex Hewko Jr.

I LOVE YOU POP POP <3
im watching you
ya tebe yubu <3

To Alex's family and friends -

Please accept the sincere condolences of my husband and I on Alex's passing.

My sister Frances is the widow of Alex’s brother, Ben. The brothers had such a stirring military past, and it was wonderful to see their stories recounted in the USA Today article—a fitting tribute to five of our country’s military heroes. We are all so very proud of all of them.

May fond memories of joyful times help alleviate your grief. Know that is in good company, with other family members: his parents, Olga, Pauline, Mary, Ben, and Peter. God bless you all, and give you comfort and peace.

Barbara Pordan

I wanted to thank the entire Hewko family for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of Alex Hewko’s ceremony. My self and 4 other members of Patrol Squadron Sixteen (VP-16) were honored to perform the P-3 flyover during your Alx Hewko's ceremony. After researching this amazing American hero, I truly feel that this flight may have been the most rewarding flight I have ever experienced in the Navy. And thanks to Alex, I was able to perform it in a P-3. I am very sorry for your lose and hope you can smile as you reflect on how wonderful a man he was and is. The United States Navy salutes you.
Very respectfully,
LT Jay Haddock

My deepest condolences on the loss of your father, Alex. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Eric, Al, and Rob- On behalf of Danny Gadarian please accept our deepest sympathy on the passing of your Dad. No words can begin to beguile the sense of loss that you feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family.

Always-
Ray Melee

Eric, Al, and Rob,

I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. I remember meeting him in Gainesville when he and your mom would come to visit everyone at UF. He was a great guy and was so proud of you guys!

My father died last year. Your Dad will be in your heart forever. He is your "real hero"!

You're all in my thoughts and prayers at this time.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Phillips

Dear Aunt Barb, Jon, Bunny, Eric, Vanessa, Alex, Rob, Colin, Katie, Adam, April, Heather, and Hillary,

We are so sorry for the loss of your husband, father, and grandfather. It's just so hard to believe he's not with us anymore. Being the oldest son in the family, he was always looked up to as the head of the Hewko clan.

We know what you're going through right now, as it was so hard going through it with my dad too. You just have to keep remembering all the good times and great memories you have of "Uncle Al" over all your years. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of my dad either. Just knowing that the family is together again up there seems to make it a little easier.

Just know that he'll always be watching over you all and will always be a part of you too.

You're all in our thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time. May all your memories bring you comfort in the days ahead.

Love to all of you,

Carol, Jack, Matt & Tyler Meyers

To: Aunt Barbara
Alex, Eric/Vanessa, Jon Scott/Bunny, Robbie
and the grandchildren:
Adam, April, Colin, Heather, Hillary, and Katie

My thoughts are with you as you say Goodbye to
your Husband...
your Father...
your Grandfather...
your Friend...

I understand that sense of numbness,
of pondering and reflecting a great many decades of time and memories.

There is grief.

There is sadness.

There are tears.

But there should also be some warm smiles at good memories of your time with him from the past. For indeed, all of us are who we are inside -not from the present- but from our collective past and the people who shaped it.

You may find in the coming days and weeks and even months, that sometimes from out of no-where, hard pain of 'missing' comes and you find yourself with a vast sense of loss and sadness.

You may also find some task you are doing at the moment brings an un-expected happy memory of him and a smile to your eyes.

My view is that the pain is simply a reflection of how much a person is missed; and thus a positive and not a negative.

As I am sure you have already done -
but draw strength and solice from each other.

There will always be a piece of him inside your soul.

God Bless

Very warmest,
Alan Hewko