SSG Garza and Mom

1. ~6 minutes. Play The Times They Are Changin� by Bob Dylan, sung by James Newton-Howard of Mpls, MN from �A Whisper in the Noise� and the movie �Lady In the Water� while slides run automatically. Put both documents on your desktop, then right-click on the speaker icon on the 1st slide and hyperlink the song to the speaker icon for automatic play. �Dylan (and Andrew, and Justin, and TJ, and Jesse) changed everything (we) believed (in) � (ourselves,) about God, about family, and about love. I think I believed that if I loved someone as deeply as I loved him, I would know if he were in trouble. My maternal (and paternal) instincts would keep him safe. But (we) didn't know. (Our) instincts weren't enough. And the fact that (we) never saw tragedy coming is still almost inconceivable... I only hope my story can help those who can still be helped. I hope that, by (hearing) of my experience, someone will see what (we) missed.� Adapted from "I Will Never Know Why� by Susan Klebold (of the Columbine HS shootings, where she lost her son to suicide), October 13, 2009O, The Oprah Magazine, November 2009 Issue Andrew�s Last Note to Friends: �I leave my debt to whoever will take it. I specifically apologize for the expenditures of the last few days. I fled San Antonio because the police were apparently going to detain me. It took some time to make new plans. Altogether, I'm sorry that there's any debt at all. That's not the way I would have left it, so I apologize.I want to say to everyone that I don't see this as being anyone's fault, and I don't blame anyone for it. At all. So don't blame yourselves. I'd specifically like to tell mom and dad that I thought they'd been great parents and that I got to have a superior childhood because of them. They were always very supportive and one couldn't ask for better parents.� Andrew�s very last note: �I hope my ideas will change the world. I really do. No one should have to go through this.�~6 minutes. Play The Times They Are Changin� by Bob Dylan, sung by James Newton-Howard of Mpls, MN from �A Whisper in the Noise� and the movie �Lady In the Water� while slides run automatically. Put both documents on your desktop, then right-click on the speaker icon on the 1st slide and hyperlink the song to the speaker icon for automatic play. �Dylan (and Andrew, and Justin, and TJ, and Jesse) changed everything (we) believed (in) � (ourselves,) about God, about family, and about love. I think I believed that if I loved someone as deeply as I loved him, I would know if he were in trouble. My maternal (and paternal) instincts would keep him safe. But (we) didn't know. (Our) instincts weren't enough. And the fact that (we) never saw tragedy coming is still almost inconceivable... I only hope my story can help those who can still be helped. I hope that, by (hearing) of my experience, someone will see what (we) missed.� Adapted from "I Will Never Know Why� by Susan Klebold (of the Columbine HS shootings, where she lost her son to suicide), October 13, 2009O, The Oprah Magazine, November 2009 Issue Andrew�s Last Note to Friends: �I leave my debt to whoever will take it. I specifically apologize for the expenditures of the last few days. I fled San Antonio because the police were apparently going to detain me. It took some time to make new plans. Altogether, I'm sorry that there's any debt at all. That's not the way I would have left it, so I apologize.I want to say to everyone that I don't see this as being anyone's fault, and I don't blame anyone for it. At all. So don't blame yourselves. I'd specifically like to tell mom and dad that I thought they'd been great parents and that I got to have a superior childhood because of them. They were always very supportive and one couldn't ask for better parents.� Andrew�s very last note: �I hope my ideas will change the world. I really do. No one should have to go through this.�

2. We have an epidemic on our hands, an epidemic of suicide, of youth stating with their actions that this world is to frightening and unforgiving and painful to live in. They leave behind tearful and wondering parents � �what went wrong�why didn�t �we� do something?� they all want to know. Thnaks goodness for leaders like GEN Chiarelli and BG Loree Sutton, who are saying �It�s not business as usual.�We have an epidemic on our hands, an epidemic of suicide, of youth stating with their actions that this world is to frightening and unforgiving and painful to live in. They leave behind tearful and wondering parents � �what went wrong�why didn�t �we� do something?� they all want to know. Thnaks goodness for leaders like GEN Chiarelli and BG Loree Sutton, who are saying �It�s not business as usual.�

3. This is NOT a new concern or topic. Civilizations topple when priorities get out of whack. Andrew was trying to re-write civilization design when he died, but he quit because of �stupid human limitations� that stopped him from being successful and accepted. Have we not learned our lesson from history?This is NOT a new concern or topic. Civilizations topple when priorities get out of whack. Andrew was trying to re-write civilization design when he died, but he quit because of �stupid human limitations� that stopped him from being successful and accepted. Have we not learned our lesson from history?

4. Bob Dylan was concerned for our society during the Vietnam War. Andrew�s older brother, Justin, came to the funeral planning saying he was led to this rendition of Bob�s song � it sounds like Andrew singing it, and is a call to action. He sank and is compelling us to wake up before it is too late.Bob Dylan was concerned for our society during the Vietnam War. Andrew�s older brother, Justin, came to the funeral planning saying he was led to this rendition of Bob�s song � it sounds like Andrew singing it, and is a call to action. He sank and is compelling us to wake up before it is too late.

5. We now have knowledge of what to do. Let�s get to�because it�ll happen again and again. Andrew died in part because he was in fear that our society was so ill it needed to be saved; when he couldn�t do (at only 21) he had to quit being a �human.� Heed his words. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.We now have knowledge of what to do. Let�s get to�because it�ll happen again and again. Andrew died in part because he was in fear that our society was so ill it needed to be saved; when he couldn�t do (at only 21) he had to quit being a �human.� Heed his words. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

6. We must have accountability. When we err, own up to it, admit it, write it down, and share the story with others��there but for the Grace of God��.We must have accountability. When we err, own up to it, admit it, write it down, and share the story with others��there but for the Grace of God��.

7. Soldiers, and their children, when deployed, see things, experience things, which makes them grow up fast. The become �wise� without the years, and lose their youth prematurely. (Replace the last �And� with �But� and add ��prematurely� to the end, after youth. The children are being �forced� to mature, and are losing years of their childhood. Perhaps we need to figure out a way to give that back to them once dad or mom comes home from war? Soldiers, and their children, when deployed, see things, experience things, which makes them grow up fast. The become �wise� without the years, and lose their youth prematurely. (Replace the last �And� with �But� and add ��prematurely� to the end, after youth. The children are being �forced� to mature, and are losing years of their childhood. Perhaps we need to figure out a way to give that back to them once dad or mom comes home from war?

8. We need to pass laws that help the community band together to save our young adults and teens�before it is too late.We need to pass laws that help the community band together to save our young adults and teens�before it is too late.

9. COL Elizabeth Stafford�s words are strangely (and alarming) familiar (remember Socrates and Rome?). She is a giant on whose shoulders I stand. COL Elizabeth Stafford�s words are strangely (and alarming) familiar (remember Socrates and Rome?). She is a giant on whose shoulders I stand.

11. Let�s all work together to prevent the next �Andrew.�Let�s all work together to prevent the next �Andrew.�

12.

13. Let�s all work together to prevent the next �Andrew.� Go forth and do good things. The picture is the �God�s Eye� Universe. (God�s eye is on us.)Let�s all work together to prevent the next �Andrew.� Go forth and do good things. The picture is the �God�s Eye� Universe. (God�s eye is on us.)