Welcome Blackfive Readers

Welcome B5'ers!

Mr. Stokely is the epitome of fatherhood, and lives everyday the tenants of Duty, Honor and Country and serves God. When he could have railed against a war that took his son from him he looked deep inside his heart and saw that while Mike's loss was tragic, it was in a greater sense Mike purpose.

How can the death of an honorable man have a purpose, because as Mr. Stokely puts it: We can chose to grieve and search for blame or we can use it as an opportunity for good. As he wrote in his blog post: A Special Veteran's Day in November 2007

What started out as a dream of the broken hearts of our family, sitting on the front porch of our home in the first few hours after news of Mike's death on August 16, 2007, has not become a reality. With this money, a lot of kids will get some help for many years to come, and hopefully go a long way in life. Mike never got to finish at Georgia Military, but each time a student who has been helped by this scholarship graduates, so will Mike.

How can one not see that Mr. Stokely and his family live by the principle espoused in Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

To that end he has started a school supply drive for school children in Yusifiyah. Two scholarship programs for college bound students and helped numerous other families and soldiers cope with the stresses of war and coming home and the Mike Stokely Foundation. He has stayed out of politics but when need be he isn't afraid to point out the hipocrasy of those who protest simply for the purpose of protesting.

He is unstoppable in his drive and able to give more than a typical human, I am honored to call him my friend. If you ever get the chance to meet him, your life will be changed for ever.

I have to agree with Matt, when he writes:

While Greyhawk is the founder (some say godfather) of the military blogosphere (coined the term "Milblog"), I would nominate Mr. Stokely as the honorary Father of Military Bloggers. All of us could learn a few lessons from him.

I can only hope to be half the father he is.

Stick around and read about Robert...meet him if you can...and look for even greater things out of this amazing man in the near future.

The post that started it all:
His Memory Will not Fade

You can read more of Robert's posts here:

Other posts not included in the topic category for Robert Stokely:
http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/02/conversations-with-gold-star-father.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/03/what-drives-your-life.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/03/mr-robert-stokely-responds-to-those.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/04/mr-robert-stokely-v-instead-of-war.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/04/48th-bct-ga-natl-guard-is-coming-home.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/04/48th-bct-ga-natl-guard-is-coming-home.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/more-conversations-with-gold-star.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/brothers-of-echo-troop-108th-cavalry.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/wounded-soldier-needs-our-letters-and.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/while-others-debate-they-serve.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/memorial-day-from-eyes-of-gold-star.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/memorial-day-thank-you.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/05/memorial-fund-for-captain-letendre.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/06/thoughts-of-gold-star-father-who-is.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/06/mr-stokely-responds-to-missing.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/06/mr-stokely-true-story-about-cheese.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/07/update-on-e-troop-108th-cav.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/07/recovery-update.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/phone-call-from-son.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/fathers-prayer.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/phone-call-no-parent-wants-to-receive.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/remembering-mike-with-his-friends.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/continuing-mission.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/mr-robert-stokely-last-ride-to-take-my.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/feigned-support-im-sick-of-it.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/08/taps-21-gun-salute-and-folded-flag-by.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/09/honoring-fallen-hero.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/09/where-were-you-when-world-stopped.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/10/sgt-mike-stokely-memorial-highway.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/10/constant-soldier.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/11/mr-luckovich-please-apologize-now.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/11/mike-luckovich-has-no-idea.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/11/veterans-day-thoughts-from-mr-robert.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/12/mr-robert-stokely-today-i-am.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/12/senate-passes-bill-to-rename-post.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/12/lets-say-thanks.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2006/12/sfc-robert-lee-bobby-hollar-jr-post.html

http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2007/01/mr-robert-stokely-what-difference-two.html