Today many folks will have their eyes on a different event but my event of the day is the funeral for Staff Sergeant Justin L. Bauer - a man truly worthy of being Tony’s Hero.  SSgt Bauer of Longmont was killed in action in Iraq on January 10th and will be laid to rest today.  He exemplified all that is good about this nation and all that is great about those men and women who serve in its armed forces.  I thank SSgt Bauer and his family for his service and their sacrifice. 

May God grant you the peace in passing that you did not see in your final days.  Fair winds and following seas, shipmate! 

Staff Sergeant Justin L. Bauer was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He was on his second tour of duty in Baghdad, Iraq when he was killed in action on Saturday, Jan. 10th 2009 at the age of 24. Our husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend, Justin was a true hero.

Born on Aug. 22, 1984, in Ventura, Calif., Justin is lovingly remembered by the many people he has touched in his young life. He graduated from Berthoud High School in 2002, where he excelled as a student athlete on the football and wrestling teams, known for his strong work ethic and leadership. He earned varsity positions in both sports, placed fourth in his weight class at the regional wrestling tournament his senior year, and was captain of the football team. Family, friends, sports, boats, and outings to Carter Lake were among the things Justin enjoyed most.

After graduating from high school in 2002, Justin followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Berthoud Fire Department. In the short time at Berthoud Fire, he received two letters of commendation and one meritorious service award. In 2003, he took a firefighting position in Antarctica for a scientific research company.

Justin enlisted in the Army in 2004. He attended paratrooper jump school at Fort Benning, Ga., and then served his first sixteen month tour in Iraq from 2005 to 2006. His dedication and hard work earned him assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division – the same division in which his grandfather, Jacob (Jack) Bauer had served so many years before as a paratrooper during the Korean War.

On Sept. 27, 2008, Justin married his high school sweetheart, Kari Campbell, at a beautiful ceremony on a perfect autumn day in Georgetown surrounded by family and friends.

Two months later, he left for his second tour in Iraq. He was scheduled to come home to Colorado in December 2009, where he planned to return to the fire department, and start a family with his new wife. Justin was decorated with several medals including the Bronze Star medal, the Purple Heart and the Humanitarian Service medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Justin left a lasting impression on those that met him. He was an engaging young man with a contagious smile who was determined to make a difference. He inspired those around him by embodying the leadership qualities he believed in, and had a great love of family, friends and community. Justin was a true hero and an example to us all.

The outpouring of sorrow and remembrances of Justin from all across the country tells us we are not alone in knowing what a difference he made in so many ways to so many people. It is this legacy of honor, integrity, and courage that will be carried on by those who knew him.

His death is a devastating loss to those closest to him. Justin leaves his wife, Kari Bauer, of Berthoud; mother, Connie Haddock, of Loveland; father, Greg Bauer, of La Salle; younger brothers, Jeremy and Jacob Bauer; younger sister, Jessica Hartman; grandparents, Jack and Gloria Bauer, of Eaton, Mary Rudquist of Minnesota, and La Vonne & Louis Varn of Johnstown. Justin is also mourned by several aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, former coaches and teachers, and fellow soldiers.

Funeral services will be held at LifeBridge Christian Church, located at 10345 Ute Hwy in Longmont, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. A procession will lead to Greenlawn Cemetery, located at CR 1 and Hwy 56 in Berthoud where military honors will be performed. A public visitation is being held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19th, 2009 at Allnutt Funeral Service, located at 2100 N. Lincoln Ave. in Loveland.