It goes without saying, Greg was such a wonderful husband and father. We now have a frame of reference for happiness, as we knew it with Greg. That happiness, joy and positive spirit has died within us. Greg taught us so much about grace and mercy, love, devotion, fulfillment and happiness. That is the ultimate acknowledgement of Greg's legacy, a continuing capacity to love and care for another human being with all your heart. It is a capacity that Greg, himself, sparked and nurtured inside of us. What a truly blessed marriage we shared!

I know Greg would not have chosen to leave our daughter Erin, and me, but I know he was aware that his job had a tangible element of danger that cowered and deferred lesser men. Greg realized and respected that danger, but never feared it. He protected his family and that of everyone else. He was very much a soldier doing a soldier's duty. His uniform may have been blue, not khaki, but his commitment and aim were exactly the same. All of mankind inevitably dies. Greg died a hero's death doing a job he knew was important. It has often been said that a man is measured by what he leaves behind, and that it is up to history to evaluate his contributions. We undoubtedly know that Greg has left a legacy built upon all the fruits of the spirit. 

We have constantly reminded ourselves of how blessed and undeserving we are in our own lives. Greg's death, while so underserved and beyond our ability to rationalize, was not in vain. As Christians, Erin and I know that we will be reunited with Greg again. Consider that the years Erin and I have left on this earth are less than the blink of an eye on God's calendar. If we were to live a thousand more years, and hurt each of those days as we did the minute we first heard the horrific news, all would be washed away when we join Greg in Heaven. We believe in our hearts that when we close our eyes the final time here, it will not be St. Peter's, but Greg's hand we feel grasping ours an instant later. All the warm memories of Greg are safe in Erin's and my heart where they will always remain and never to be taken.

We have come to realize looking a week, a month, a year, or years out, is quite overwhelming. Erin and I have truly lost the love of our life, a humble and faithful man who was so honorable and dedicated to his Lord, family and his career. Greg was truly a unique man who was so caring, compassionate, unconditional, loving and had so much mercy and grace. It saddens me to know the many lives Greg will never personally touch, but I believe lives will be touched through his caring ways. In my heart, Greg was perfect in all ways. Now, Erin and I continue to live with broken hearts. Yes, the sadness and the pain are so overwhelming. There is an emotion that does not tend to exist in our world until someone so very special dies, and that emotion is infinitely the combination of such deep pain, sadness and depression, leaving you forever feeling like a gutted deer and exposing yourself to the world with such a horrible, burning pain that does not go away. Erin and I both pray about our lives and how blessed we once were, how we still are very blessed.  We would never trade all the pain and hurt in our lives we will forever have for never having the opportunity to share such a beautiful and fulfilling life with Greg.  We will always be indebted to Greg for everything he brought into our lives.

As you conclude reading our tribute, may your hearts find warmth in knowing more about Greg and that Greg's eternal destination is now with our Lord.

Peace and blessings to each of you.

Denise and Erin Hunter

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the Peacekeepers, for they shall be called the children of God."

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, for he trusteth in thee; trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."

2 Timothy 2:24 "A TRUE man of God is known by HOW HE TREATS those who DISAGREE with him. He refuses to quarrel and is kind to EVERYONE."..........This is exactly the way my husband, Greg, lived his life until the day the Lord called his precious life to his new home.