Mary Manoukian:  

* As some of you may remember from meeting me at 1997's reunion..I talked about my cherished son and only child Nicholas.He was 13 at that time and we were both struggling as his father..my husband Isaac had passed away the year before.Nick was a talented artist and drummer,loyal friend to many and the joy and love of my life.He felt driven to join the Marines in June 2004..at that time his recruiter SSgt Steven Powell came to our home and told us both that "because Nick was my only child and I was widowed...they would never send Nick to a combat zone unless he signed a "waiver" stating he wanted to go."This was all untrue...Nick married his high school sweety in July 2006 and was sent to Iraq in Sept 2006 for the second time.On Oct 21,2006...my doorbell rang with news that my worst nightmare had come true.Nick had been killed along with 2 of his other Marine brothers in Ramadi Iraq.Two ot...Expand for more