He was killed by an IED on September 9th, 2010, just weeks before he was set to come home from duty in Afghanistan. His remains were returned to the United States, and he was put to rest at Arlington National Cemetery a month later. It has been determined that Lt. Weaver’s laptop, which he possessed while in Afghanistan, has been returned to his wife Emma. Emma chose to open the laptop a couple of days after the wedding was over. To the majority of Americans, Veterans Day and Memorial Day are more than just a day or two off from school or work.
These are the days that we set aside to express our gratitude to the men and women who have served our nation in the military forces throughout the years. Memorial Day, in particular, commemorates those who sacrificed their lives so that Americans might continue to enjoy the freedom and way of life that make our nation great.
Twenty-six year old Todd Weaver volunteered for his second deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2010. They were left behind to wait for him, along with his wife of two years, Emma, and their nine-month-old kid. In order to stay connected through these difficult times, the family used letters and video chat to stay in touch.
Sadly, Lieutenant Weaver was killed in a car accident on September 9, 2010. It wasn’t long before he was supposed to come home when he was killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). The remains of the dead soldier were returned to the United States, and Lieutenant Weaver was put to rest in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
As destiny would have it, the cemetery was the final spot Lt. Weaver visited before being called away on deployment. At his burial, Weaver was presented with a purple heart, a bronze star, and a variety of other awards in acknowledgment of his military service.
Less than a year had passed since his visit to the cemetery, and the burial was held. Lieutenant Weaver’s laptop, which he used while in Afghanistan, was given to him by his wife, Emma. Two days after her husband’s burial, she sat down in front of the computer to check her emails.
On the computer’s dashboard, there were two Word documents that were immediately accessible. One of them was a letter sent to Emma. The second document was a letter written to the couple’s young daughter, Kiley, which was found in their possession. He declared his undying love and admiration for Kiley in front of her.
He admonished his daughter to always be nice to others, promising that kindness will be returned to her by the rest of the world. He apologized to his daughter for not being around to see her transition from childhood to maturity, but assured her that she had a bright future ahead of her.
When you do not have a family member or friend who is a member of our armed services, it is easy to overlook the sacrifices made by those who serve in our armed forces. Spread the word about this article to everyone you know. Lieutenant Weaver’s sacrifice should never be forgotten, and he should be honored for it.