A Hero Comes Home

“Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.   Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.   Amen.”

Staff Sgt. Derek Farley

“Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, 24, of Nassau, N.Y., died Aug. 17 at Bala Boluk, Farah, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated as he attempted to disarm it. He was assigned to the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Grafenwoehr, Germany.”

On Wednesday August 25, Staff Sergeant Derek Farley’s is coming home.  His motorcade will travel from Albany Airport to his home town of Nassau and then through North Greenbush to Lyons Funeral Home on Washington Ave.

The public is encouraged to line the non-highway portions of the route of the motorcade in a show of support for Farley and his family.  In North Greenbush, that will the portion of Washington Ave from Exit 8 west toward the funeral home.

Please forward this message and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to line Washington Ave, and honor a true hero.

The family asks that any donations be made to the EOD Memorial Foundation, 7040 CR 772, Webster, Fla. 33597.

A Prayer For A Fallen Soldier
Author Unknown

I saw a soldier kneeling down,
for this was the first quiet place he had found.
He had traveled through jungles, rivers and mud.
His hands were scared and toil-warned.

He folded his hands and looked to the sky…
I saw his tears, as they welled in his eyes.
He spoke to God, and this is what he said.
God Bless my men, who now lie dead;

I know not what You have in mind,
but when You judge, please be kind….
when they come before You, they will be poorly dressed
but will walk proudly, for they have done their best.

Their boots will be muddy and their clothes all torn…
but these clothes they have so proudly worn.
Their hearts will be still and cold inside,
for they have fought their best and did so with pride.

So please take care of them as they pass Your way…
the price of freedom they’ve already paid.