JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Today marks the 10th anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq. Thousands of service men and women lost their lives during that war, including some from our area.
For Dave Seamans, who lost his 20 year-old son, the 10th anniversary of the start of that war is just as painful as it began.
"I'm glad it was over, I wish Tim would've been home," said Dave Seamans, father of fallen soldier.
Seamans truck is decorated with memories of his son, Private First Class Timothy Seamans.
He also wears a bracelet with his name and a gold star pin which symbolizes his membership in a club no parent wants to be a part of.
His son had only been in Iraq for eight months when the Humvee he was traveling in struck an IED killing all four soldiers inside.
"He had a beautiful smile and it's gone, so I have to smile for him," said Seamans.
According to the Wounded Warrior Project, in ten years more than 6,687 service men and women have died in Iraq and 50,521 were wounded.
Since the death of their son, the Seamans' family founded the Timothy Seamans Memorial Foundation. It's an organization that helps maintain fallen soldier monuments at each high school of Florida graduates who lost their lives in the war.
For Seamans, it's just one of the ways he honors the memory of his brave son.
"You learn to just put it inside your heart and move on and do what you can to honor them and all our heroes who come or go, you keep the memory alive," said Seamans.
On May, 18th the Timothy Seamans Memorial Foundation will hold a dedication ceremony for their 9th fallen heroes monument at Robert E. Lee High School.
