FOX 10 News
Linda Williams
March 14, 2017
Earlier this month, the man who helped so many took his own life. While shocked, veterans say his death has galvanized them to continue the fight SFC Mancini was so dedicated to.PHOENIX (KSAZ) - An Iraq war veteran who made it his life's mission to help other troops returning from war has died. Brian Mancini co-founded Honor House, a place where wounded veterans could go for therapy and counseling. But sadly, the man who helped so many others heal couldn't find peace himself.
A retired Sgt. First Class, Mancini was just 38 years old and he left the Honor House organization he founded a year ago.
Mancini, who had two Purple Hearts, worked tirelessly to save veterans who were hurting. On Tuesday, the community came to salute, honor and thank him. With the Patriot Guard standing by, hundreds crowded into the Christ Church of the Valley to say goodbye to the Army veteran. Many here call him hero.
His family is devastated, but also his fellow veterans. He may not have served with them, but they say he saved their lives once they came home mentally and emotionally wounded.
"Brian literally met with me five to seven times a week, gave me a healing, counseled me, he pulled me away from the abyss so many times," said Budd Gilbert, a veteran.
read more here
Sergeant First Class (US Army) Brian Mancini, Veteran Iraqi Freedom, Honor House
Sergeant First Class (US Army) Brian Mancini, Veteran Iraqi Freedom, Honor House from Herbert Hitchon on Vimeo.
She looked large and strong, just like I knew
ReplyDeleteDress fluttering in the breeze; mingled red, white and blue
Beautiful and perfect when she cast me that look
I could see it in her eyes, like before, like a book
So I stood straight and tall, already dressed like a tree
I said "mam what is it that you require of me"
She said "I see you sell things, your shelves hold my needs"
I said "they're not for sale mam, your commands are their deeds"
She said "I've been wronged see this tear here in my dress"
I looked and indeed saw death and distress
I said "mam who would do such a thing, so much pain
But the actor is no matter, their acts still my bane”
But I could tell by her face that she would answer all the same
She said "they hate me one and all, no matter their name"
She looked again at the shelves, then at me, then then ground
She said "I'm so sorry, I know, my needs they're profound"
I will ask so much, I fear all you can spare
When I've stated my needs your shelves, they'll be bare
I said "mam they stay full, these boxes of souls
Replenished, restocked, for dark nights and foxholes"
But how will I pay all I have is this dress
And it’s old and it’s worn as you can see, just a mess
I said "mam you owe nothing, your bill paid in full"
You see this dress is our payment, its thread and its wool
The stars so bright white mark the numbers of us
That never came back, each thousands plus
The blue from the sky that is found only here
The brilliance of which makes us feel small, shed tear
The white in its lines is our land vast and free
From the easts sandy shores to the wests tallest tree
You see now why mam you owe nothing of a bill
Just the thought of our prize is our joy our true thrill
But her eyes changed to queries and she cast me a look
She furrowed her brow and smiled like a crook
I think you forgot one, a color, part of the scheme
You see here the red, between the whites with their gleam
I said no mam my mind did not neglect or forget
The color red on your dress you see that's our debt
It's a somber reminder, a reminder for us all
That freedom is not free, that for it some must fall