PFC Anthony Lander

I don’t know where to begin to thank all of you for the special quilt that you sent me in honor of my son, Anthony. The pain my family and I have been through since Anthony died in July is almost unimaginable, but there have been so many fine, caring people that have helped to ease that pain.

I just cannot even begin to thank all of you enough for your thoughts, prayers and all of the love for humanity that goes into making something like this for someone you have never even met. Please know that I will cherish this quilt for the rest of my life.

I didn’t know what fine company my son was in until after the tragedy that took his life. We have met so many fine men and women in uniform since Anthony’s death. We got to go to the memorial service for Anthony in Hawaii, and met all of his closest friends and the commanders over his battalion. Anthony’s Battalion, and the rest of the 25th Infantry Division are currently in special training for deployment to Iraq in February. We are praying for their safety while they are there and for their safe return to their families.

I have been adopted as a Battalion Mom by the wife of the Lieutenant Colonel over the Headquarters Battalion, that Anthony was assigned to. I am going to be staying in touch with them while they are deployed and I am working on making Care Packages to send them. This is just my little way of showing all of them that I care about their dedication to the duty that they have volunteered for. Without people like them I have to wonder what kind of world this would be.

My son was touched by the events of 9-11, and that is what inspired him to join the Army. I am a flight attendant for American Airlines, and he felt like it just could have been me that was on one of those flights that was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Centers and The Pentagon.

I have also set up a foundation in Anthony’s name called the Ground Zero to Hero Foundation. This foundation is to benefit young adults interested in military service. The foundation funds are set up to hire tutors to assist kids in passing the ASVAB, or to attain higher scores on the ASVAB so they may get a better job classification upon entry. Initially the tutors will be assisting kids in Job Corps and where they lack the economic advantages for doing this on their own.

Please know that I am forever thankful for all of the support, love and prayers that you have bestowed on the memory of my son with this quilt. And thank you so much for supporting the families of all of our fine men and women in uniform.

– Janet Brady