In Memory of Sgt. Joseph Lilly

On June 14, 2012, my brother, Sgt. Joseph Lilly, was killed in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. My brother left behind a bright blue-eyed little boy who thought the world of him: his son. My brother loved his son more than he loved anything else, and he gave his life to prove that he would do anything to keep his little boy safe and secure.

He became a hero to many people the day he gave the ultimate sacrifice, but he became his son's hero by simply being a father to him—taking him camping and fishing, teaching him, and reading him bedtime stories. When a soldier gives their life to protect the lives of others, they are a hero, and they deserve to be honored.

This book is not only for my brother and my nephew; it is for every parent who lost their life in the military, and it is for the children they left behind.