Five Years ~ Major David Gladney Taylor, Jr. ~ RIP

This is Jake, Dave's son.  Oh, he sure knows that Freedom is Not Free.

Five years.  It doesn't seem possible that five years have passed since Dave was killed by a roadside IED in Iraq.  

I met Dave in 1995 through Ben.  He was a single soldier and we often had the single soldiers over for dinner or other social activities.  They all got along together very well.  The unit they were in had a wonderful group of officers and they were very close.

I knew him for 11 years.  It doesn't seem to be have been nearly enough.  

For most of my life, I've always wanted an older brother.  I always felt an older brother would take care of me.  Dave fit that perfectly.  He was like an older brother.  He teased me.  He took care of me.  He was my friend.

I miss him.  Terribly.  

Five years.  I don't think I can bear it when we reach more years gone than I knew him.  I just don't.  And, I want to feel badly that this post is all about how much I miss him, but I can't seem to.