I believe all parents want to know/believe that when they aren't around their children are still good kids and behave the way they would if they aren't around. I'm not naive enough to think that Chad was perfect when I wasn't around, but it has been made apparent to me that he did know right from wrong and still tried to be the best person he could be even when he never thought I would know. I guess it's a little on the funny side that if you have a child that has lived through teenage years and you have to lose them, that's when you find out how great they really were when you weren't around. I've been so fortunate to learn that even when I wasn't around my son still tried to always do the right thing. Of course he messed up and made mistakes and was, well, a teenager, However, when friends tell you that he was always the same person regardless who was around or we would try to break the rules, but Chad never wanted to participate, because he didn't want to get into trouble, there is something very comforting about that. I may not have ever known those things if he were still alive today. At least probably not for many more years to come. So needless to say, I am still so extremely proud of my son. To me, it's a huge show of respect when someone wants to carry on your name. To me it means that the person they are naming their child after has made an impact in their lives or that they were very well respected for the kind of person they were and loved very much. Well, I am fortunate enough to now have witnessed 3 people in Chad's life that has chosen to carry on his name and it makes my heart just swell up with pride. To me that says a lot about the kind of young man Chad really was and while I always thought and knew what kind of person he was it's always nice to know that others saw that too and just when you thought you couldn't be more proud, there you go feeling even more. Let me introduce you to Chad's namesakes in the order in which they came to be.
First we have little Noahh Stafford (Chad's middle name). Maxx (Noahh's daddy) is a Marine that was stationed at Camp Pendleton with Chad and Maxx and Emily (Noahh's mommy) were close friends of Chad and Katie. Chad and Katie helped Emily while Maxx was deployed and in return Maxx and Emily helped Katie while Chad was deployed and since December 1st they've just been right there if she needed them. Emily was pregnant with Noahh while Maxx was deployed and gave birth in December just before Christmas. They decided after December 1st that they wanted to name Noahh with Chad's middle name and we couldn't have felt more honored. Before Chad deployed Maxx and Emily named Chad and Katie Noahh's godparents. What an honor to be the godparent of any child so after Chad was KIA I decided I would take over his "godfather" duties and love Noahh like I know Chad would. With that responsibility comes the honor of teaching Noahh all about our beloved Tennessee Vols! Now, you might be like, why is that such a big deal. Well, I will be glad to tell you. See, Emily is a Florida Gator fan. Yeah, I know right. Any who... Although I would never get him a Gator Hater onsie (although it was tempting) out of respect for his mommy, I did get him several TN outfits along with a TN "Real Tree" camo ball cap. See, Chad was a huge "Real Tree" fan (mainly because he was a true redneck) so it was just fitting that Noahh have his very own. In this picture I'm going to show you, he is sporting his first "Real Tree" TN ball cap.
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| Here is proudly shows you the "T" |
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I think he likes it!
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The next little namesake I want to tell you about is little "Wade". Little "Wade" belongs to TJ Oliver. TJ is one of Chad's buddies in the Marine Corps and was deployed with Chad in Iraq and Afghanistan. While they were deployed together they were in different locations, but they were still brothers. Chad and TJ lived across the parking lot from each other when Chad & Katie lived on base. They spent many days and nights together both during and after work. If I'm not mistaken even before TJ got back to the states from Afghanistan he already had little "Wade" picked out and named. Now those who know me at all know I'm not a fan of dogs (critters in general, but especially dogs). I've been terrified of them since I can remember and as much as I hate it that's just how it is with me. However, I must say so myself, that this has to be one of the cutest little things I've seen in a long time. Let me introduce you to little "Wade" (who apparently isn't quite so little anymore, but this picture is probably less scary for me).
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| "Wade" |
Last, but certainly not least let me tell you about the newest of Chad's namesakes. Wednesday of this week, July 20th, little Bentley Wade McQuillan was born (10 lbs 1 oz!) to Justin and Beth. Now let me tell you a little about Justin. Justin (or as I've always referred to him as Across the street Justin) lived across the street from Chad and I when we first moved into our own place here in AR. We lived across the street from Justin and his family for about 6 years. Chad and Justin were very close friends and went to school together until graduation. Justin is the only one of Chad's buddies from school that stayed in touch with me all the time and especially after Chad enlisted. He would call or text me about every couple of weeks just to check in and make sure I was ok and to check on Chad. He credits Chad for him moving to Florida and going to motorcycle mechanic school. He is a great kid. I love this boy! He and his girlfriend Beth live together in Florida and she is just a doll. Unfortunately, I met her for the first time at Chad's funeral, but I knew right away she loved Justin and he loved her. Shortly after the funeral Justin called me to tell me they were having a baby. I was so excited for them and knew right away that Justin would make a great father. He said he wanted to name his son after Chad in some way and Beth was amazing enough to agree. So now let me introduce you to Mr. Bentley Wade McQuillan, our newest addition to our family.
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| Bentley Wade McQuillan |
What an honor! Chad would be so proud and over the moon about all this and what a tribute to him. Thank you all for making Chad a permanent piece of your lives that will last forever. It means so much to me that you thought so much of my son that you wanted his name to be forever present. I love you all so much.
There is just no greater way to honor the memory of someone than by carrying on their name. I'm so glad that this is happening because I'm sure that when you had a son, you thought the Wade name would carry on through him. When you're born into a family of women, like I was, the dad just has to accept that the family name dies with him. (I've been trying to find a way to work "Brake" into our next child's name for forever). But Chad's name lives on in not 1 but 2 children! (And of course sweet little Wade). It absolutely speaks to Chad's character and how well-respected he was among his peers.
ReplyDeleteAlso, should you change your mind about that Gator Hater onesie...I know where you can find one. *ahem* ;-D
That's awesome! As you know, when I was visiting you guys last year I went and got some of Christopher's things from his grandparents. One of those things was a folder full of letters that people, mostly Christopher's fellow students, wrote to his mom after he died. Those letters say more about him and who he was than I ever would have known. So I understand what you mean about learning who your kid really was from other people. And I have no doubt Chad was a great kid. I know his mom...!
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