The Everyday Patriot Project

  Specialist Nickolas Shane Welch was born on March 16, 1987.  He graduated in 2005 from Santiam Canyon High School, where he played football and basketball and ran track.  Next, Specialist Nickolas Shane Welsch graduated from the College of the Siskiyous in 2009 with an associate's degree in Business Management before he enlisted in the US Army in August 2010. Specialist Nickolas Shane Welch was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division and deployed to Afghanistan for the War on Terror in 2013.  On August 6, 2013, Specialist Nickolas Shane Welch would die during his service after a suicide bomber detonated an IED while at a checkpoint. He rests at the Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon.  *Author's Note* My middle son considered Specialist Welch a dear friend and was far enough outside the blast radius to be thrown, but not killed, by the blast.  We at the Everyday Patriot project deeply mourn the passing of Specialist Welch and will forever h...

  Sergeant Frank James Walls was born on September 5, 1970, in Hawthorn, Pennslyvania. He graduated from Red Bank Valley High School, where he played football, and was attending college at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He enlisted in the Pennslyvania Army National Guard to earn money for college and was a mechanic for the 14th Quartermaster.  In addition to his National Guard Service, Sergeant Frank James Walls volunteered with the Hawthorn Fire Company and was a member of the Hawthorn Rod and Gun Club and the Eagles Club. Sergeant Frank James Walls deployed to Saudi Arabia in February 1991 to support Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield and the Gulf War. On February 25, 1991, a few short days after his arrival, Sergeant Frank James Walls died during his service after a SCUD missle struck the barracks of the 14th Quartermaster unit. He rests at the Squirrel Hills Cemetery in New Bethlehem, Pennslyvania. * Read about a.d. elliott's Everyday Patriot Project here*...