Thanks Gary for starting this. Rich was truely one of the good ones. One of the few that touched all he came in contact with. A man whos actions spoke so much louder than words can ever say, Ive been trying to come up with the words to describe him and havent been able to do so. My son who is in Iraq right now, sent me a message when he heard the news and wanted all to hear what he had to say, I think he said it best and it really lets a person know what kind of person Rich really was To Richie...Blue ones brother ...Ill cya on the other side First off id like to introduce myself to everybody some of you may know me and some of you may not but i am Cory Meade and id like to say sorry to everybody for not being able to attend his services. I knew richie for many years and all the years i knew him for id never seen him mad he always had a smile on his face that brightend the sky. When i was younger i always looked forward to the weekend because i knew that i would get to visit with rich and hear all of his amazing stories that he had to tell. every saturday i would wake up wondering what story richie had that he was gunna tell that day. I have very many amazing memories about him that i will never forget. one of the most memorable part of my life was when i went to basic training in Fort Benning Geogia and i asked him to pin my infantry cord on me he was so excited and couldnt wait to do so and when the day came he showed up to my graduation with that big smile that all of us remember him haveing. then the drill sgts called for the people to pin on the cord and rich stood in front of me again with a huge smile and tears in his eyes from excitment he went to pin me, being as happy as he was he put my cord on the wrong arm and we all laughed but he fixed it and gave me a big huge hug and told me how happy he was for me. To speak the truth i dont think that i would have been the man that i am without rich in my life. He was a huge influence on my life and anytime that i had to make a big decision i always wanted his point of view. Rich did alot of things for many people and i know alot of us can say that since we met rich weve all met the most perfect person that anybody could have been. They say that you meet people for Reasons, Seasons, and Lifetimes well again i think i speak for all of us when i say that Rich was a lifetime. it doesnt matter if you knew him for a day or 40 years he brightend your life and made it better. i know that he made me realize how valuable life really is i can honestly say that without him i wouldnt be the same and i thank him for makeing me a better person. To end this i send all of my prayers and love in my heart to Carol and Riches family and friends. Now i want you to do what Richie would have wanted all of us to do and go have a drink and celebrate the life of Rich Luttrell and what wonderful life he brought among all of us. Rich your gone but never forgotten Blue skies forever brutha
