Kevin Wessel was killed in Iraq on April 19th, 2005. He died shooting at a carbomber. More important, he died fighting for our country. I had the honor of knowing Kevin from the years 1999-2001, when I was a Sophomore and Junior at Assets High School. He was my best friend there. Kevin always provided a very healthy dose of patriotism and humor, his humor sometimes so absurd his teachers didn't think it was a 'healthy dose.' I did. He was my brother in arms at that terrible school. We were both conservative, both loved America and both had strong ideals. We were also the only ones.

My fondest memory of Kevin is this: one day he was absent from our American History class. Our teacher, Ross Kinsler, was a raving liberal bent on slandering America. He was teaching on racism again, and I calmly asked if we could ever focus on something other that racism. The riot that ensued was legendary, and you wouldn't believe me unless you saw it. Kids were yelling at me, screaming, calling me stupid, slamming their fists on the desk. Kinsler stood back, laughed at me and encouraged them. I was calm, shocked really. I'll never forget the look on one idiot students face (I forget her actual name, however. I think it was Beth or something), it was a look of anger I've never seen duplicated. Anyway, after (no kidding) about a half an hour, Kevin Wessel marches in the room in FULL ON Camo, and starts bragging about he just got back from shooting 50 cal rounds so many times his arm hurt. The students, and teacher, shut up immediatly. Kevin came and sat beside me, and I was grinning ear to ear. Brothers in arms.

Kevin dreamed of entering the military and fighting for our country. He got his dream, and died the way he should have. Not everybody deserves the honor of dying for America, but Kevin did. He examplefies integrity and I'll never forget him. Kevin Wessel