‘Stay Army Strong’: U.S. Soldiers Salute Terminally Ill 10-Year-Old
- Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:25am by
Meredith Jessup
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Ever since his doctor delivered the sad diagnosis in 2009, Brennan Daigle has not stopped fighting his embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bone. But by Feb. 10, doctors declared they had done all they could. Brennan had just two weeks left to live.
Brennan Daigle (Images: Fort Polk Guardian)
Brennan’s mother was devastated by the prospect of losing her only son, but Brennan’s faith remained unshaken: “I know that with faith in God I’ll be OK,” he said. “I think God will lead me.” Comforted by the fact he would one day walk hand-in-hand with his deceased grandmother in Heaven, Brennan soldiered on.
As his mother planned a cancer society fundraising event, Brennan suggested a G.I. Joe theme. “The image of a strong and healthy man battling his enemies connected with Brennan, who was fighting his own battle,” the Ft. Polk Guardian reports.
Brennan also loves all things Army.
To keep friends and family apprised of his condition, Brennan’s mother created a Facebook page, aptly titled “Brennan’s Brigade.” Hundreds of strangers sent Brennan their well wishes, including a number of men and women serving in the United States armed forces inspired by Brennan’s courage.
“Many of these Soldiers write things like, ‘we’re over here fighting for our country while you’re at home fighting for your life,’” his mom says.
“We even got a picture of Soldiers surrounding a HMMWV in Afghanistan, holding an American flag, who gave him the message ‘We’re flying this flag in honor of you; we’re here to back you. Stay Army strong.’”
On Saturday, Feb. 26, 9-year-old Brennan went with his father to what he thought would be a fun fishing trip. Instead, the young soldier was surprised to find more than 40 Fort Polk soldiers greet him — all in full formation, standing at attention.
“Happy Birthday, Brennan!” a crowd of about 400 people exclaimed in unison.
“When he realized it was a surprise, and for him, he couldn’t say anything. All he could do was giggle. He was speechless,” his mother said.
A simpler party had been planned for Brennan, who had asked for an Army-themed birthday celebration.
“He was under the impression that there would be a little birthday party this coming weekend,” she said. “He had no idea about the castle, and we (her husband and daughter) had no idea that the Army would send Soldiers to fulfill Brennan’s wish,” — the wish to meet Soldiers before his illness worsens.
Brennan’s wish came true with the help of Becky Prejean, executive director of “Dreams Come True of Louisiana.” After hearing about Brennan’s story through word of mouth, Prejean contacted his mother.
“Kristy said he had two days to two weeks to live and asked if we did parties. He wanted an Army-themed party, so I contacted Katey Husband, Fort Polk community member and mother of a ‘Dreams Come True’ child, who contacted Tresa Lawson, Fort Polk’s Community Relations Officer.”
Lawson asked for five to six Soldier volunteers; 40 answered the call.
“Words can never express what I felt seeing all those Soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy,” Brennan’s mom remembered. “Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces.”
Not only did Brennan get to greet several of his personal heroes that day, but he was also taken on a HMMWV ride and inducted as an honorary member of the U.S. Army. Brennan was awarded for his courage with a coin symbolizing merit and achievement of excellence and several presents, including his own personalized dog tags inscribed with the seven Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
“Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means,” Pfc. Kamesha Starkey of the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade announced.
The emotional day even took a toll on battlefield-hardened men and women. “This event is a profound one. A lot of us just wanted to be there for him, show him we support him totally,” said Sgt. Joe M. Battle, 1st MEB public affairs. “But I can’t say it wasn’t hard emotionally.”
Pfc. Kyle Frederick added, “It was good to be able to give back. It opened my eyes to a lot of things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are, how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it good compared to others.”
After devouring a piece of his Army-themed birthday cake, Brennan accepted hugs from hundreds of strangers and opened dozens of presents they’d brough for him.
“Am I really in the Army?” Brennan later asked his mom.
“You most certainly are,” she said. “They don’t just swear in anyone!”
“That’s awesome,” he said.
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Comments (110)
MaggieRose
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:46amwow… this is what America is all about for sure… God Bless Brennan and his family and God Bless our Troops!
Report Post »conservativeme
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:42amWow! . . . just Wow! Go Army!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:17amIf there were more like Brennan then AMERICA probably wouldn’t be in this mess we are in now. Keep fighting Brennan
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:01amGod bless them all especially Brennan. What a big burden for such a young boy. This is what it’s all about. People being a blessing to others. Millions of people could learn from this.
Report Post »Bermuda Onion
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:59amThis sort of selfless giving really ****** off liberals. May God bless all of those that were there and bless Brennan in his fight for survival and when his time comes may it be a painless passing. And may GOD bless this wonderful country and people we call America and Americans!
Report Post »AzCowboy
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:56amI was dianosed with cancer 3 years ago. I had surgery and chemo and at this time I am cancer free. I would gladly trade places with this young man.
Report Post »A COWBOY WEEPS
jH…
kickagrandma
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:12am@AZCOWBOY~~~ GOD bless you, too!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:13pmHey Cowboy! You truly know the meaning of “one day at a time” huh? May God keep on blessing you and grant you continued good health!
Report Post »ann4now
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:53amAs a Hospice Nurse, this story was very moving and special. God Bless this boy, his family and all who made this possible for him. Thanks Blaze, for sharing this story.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:53pmGod Bless Hospice. :) Angels in human form.
Report Post »martinspotatorolls
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:36amStay strong Brennan, we need good men like you to lead us. Soldiers, well done !
Report Post »paulpenn
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:26amI hope God perform a miracle and cure this individual. Life can be so unfair to many humans.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:19amThis type of thing has always been true of our american soldiers .While I was stationed at Fort Eustis Va. we would take handicap and sick childern on train rides of the post.Sorry if I misspelled kinda hard typejng thru tears.
Report Post »Jim from Florida
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:10amThank you for printing this. You have made my day!
Report Post »needanotherReagan
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:05amWhat a heart warming story. Sad, but heart warming. I salute you Brennan, keep fighting. I also give a salute to the servicemen and women who have already given so much to their country gave a very special boy a very special day. God bless all of them.
Report Post »justice
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:40amWith all the worst stories out there, this story even saddened, gives hope to a very brave young man. God bless you and your family. And you have very brave military fans whom I also have great respect for. God loves you. You are a blessed young man.
Report Post »LadyIzShy
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:35amGod Bless them all. THIS story solidifies my faith in Americans. Leave it to the military to be the ones to step up. THEY ALWAYS do..
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:33amMy goodness, that ripped my heart out. I know our military is exceptional but this child is also very exceptional. His family is truly blessed to have had him to love and cherish. May God bless them all.
Report Post »THE-FINAL-ACT
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:24amBest read I had all year.
Report Post »912828Buckeye
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:06amAgreed……. Brought tears to my eyes.
Report Post »I must be get’n old.
biohazard23
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:16amGod bless you, Brennan. God bless you, your family, and all of those awesome, wonderful, incredibly caring, and selfless members of our armed forces who came out to wish you a happy birthday.
Report Post »Venom
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:47amHooah
Report Post »Arc
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:28amBrennan is the finest caliber of young men who honor service of the military.
The 40 soldiers from Ft Polk symbolize the caliber of public servants that our men and women represent..
These men, as well as Brennan, exemplify middle America who “ cling to their guns” to ensure DOMESTIC PEACE & TRANQUILITY.
The sacrifices made by our men and women also give a new and heartfelt meaning to “above and beyond the call of duty.”
All The Way….Army Strong!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Rick300
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:24amAmen ARC! Amen.
Report Post »nerbles
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:17amPerfectly stated ARC!
Report Post »God Bless the Soldiers and Brennan!
HillBillySam1
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:23amThey asked for six volunteers and forty stepped up……the men and women who serve our country in uniform truly are the best among us…..May God bless them and their families…..and may God bless young Brennan and his family……
Report Post »LOD7
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:15amAlbertariancitizen said it well, America’s armed forces are and always have been the best in the world, as evidenced in this birthday wish come true for Brennan Daigle – what better examples of American Exceptionalism can one find?
Report Post »Please God bless Brennan, his loved ones, and our dear, beloved soldiers, whose bravery and goodness shine a light so bright, that may those in the dark see what is most dear and most certainly true.
LilHarley
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:41amWhen our lives and our country is slowly crumbling around us…it is nice to have such and uplifting story of selfless men and women who put their lives on the line every day for us…and STILL take the time to help our fellow man…or boy in this case.
Report Post »Bless you….All of you
WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:31amDitto, well said…
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:31amThis story reinforces my belief that most of us have good and decent hearts. Most of us would help out anyone who needs it – no need to run it through any kind of governmental department.
Report Post »TEE-PAR-TEE
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:24amTo quote the young guy, “That’s awesome.”
Thank you Blaze.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:29pmand THIS, these soldiers, are what makes AMERICA GREAT.
Report Post »ALibertarianCitizen
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:03amThis is why we have the best armed forces in the world, we don’t fight for a nation, a president, we fight for a system of values and our armed forces are loyal to those values and the document they were stated in, the Constitution of the United States of America. Hooah to you Brennan, and hooah to the infantrymen who gave their time for this young boy. This is what makes America more than a country, but a way of life.
Report Post »ALibertarianCitizen
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:03am*or a president
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:22amWhats that Fraze? “It Takes a village to raise a child?”
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:24amIt must be getting late!
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:00amMay God bless them all.
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:40amNot only do these men and women give their lives…apparently their hearts too…good story!
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:11amWhat a great story!
Report Post »nothingbuthetruth
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:02amI love our country and its military. What a brave little soldier. God Bless
Report Post »AmeriWoman
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:11amAwesome, and makes me so proud of them all. God Bless Brennan and everyone involved. Sure makes me humble and reminds me how very lucky I am. This story brought me to tears but makes my heart happy. Thanks for sharing Blaze, high 5s!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 6:23amThis is why America is the greatest country on earth! God bless Brennan, the people responsible for making this event happen and our soldiers here and abroad.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:38am.
Report Post »Damn, I need a tissue…………….GBTA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 7:44amLove the soldiers for doing this, for soon one of our youngest will become a soldier in the heavenly forces contained in God’s love and grace. May all be done to keep the soldiers safe until the last one comes home.
Report Post »Stonewall_Jackson
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:19amGreat story. I pray for this young man to face the coming days with peace knowing who awaits him on the other side. May the Lord also Bless all who have tried to make his final days the very best for this young Patriot.
Report Post »Stonewall_Jackson
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:21amGreat story. I pray for peace for this young man knowing who awaits him on the other side. My the Lord also Bless all those who tried to make the final days of this young Patriot the best possible.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:35amA touching humanity. But I worry if the terminal child isn’t symptomatic of our post modern American Military. What with the changes mandated by a corrupt Congress and an Immoral Pretender — I think the word to our Military ought be “Stay Army Strong” They are the ones with terminal illness brought on by the evolution of our once strong Government now wasted by the corruptive influence of power unchecked by Religion or Morality.So to our moderns Army where sodomy is now embraced as
Army value-Stay Army strong boys– Stay Army Strong.
AzDebi
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:38amMy only son and only child was diagnosed with cancer when he was 3 1/2…he was given less than a 5% chance of surviving for 6 months…we traveled all over this country and received helped from some of the most amazing people I have ever known…I met hundreds of children…all of them touched my heart and to this day I have never forgotten them…many fought but few survived…all of them were/are my heroes.
My son did not lose his battle…he is alive and well today…Miracles do happen…I’m not certain why it happened for us but I am forever grateful…I know that this country has the finest health care system in the world and we’d all do well to fight to keep it that way; otherwise “their” sacrifices in the search for cures will have been in vane…
Young heroes like Brennan and my son have endured treatments that only their young, healthy bodies could….I believe THEY are the very reason why any one of us has any kind of “hope” for a treatment if/when we ourselves might be diagnosed with this horrible disease…so much knowledge is gained from treating each and every one of them…
I take the passage of the heath care bill very personally…how dare they destroy what so many have paid so high a price to achieve! May God bless Brennan and his family.
Report Post »johnp1221
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:46amTruly heart-warming to read a story like this. The United States is second to none, and this further proves it. I love our troops for the countless, unappreciated good deeds they do.
Report Post »Jude_25
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:23amWhat a heart warming story. My prayers are with this family and this little soldier. What a blessing to see that our Army is exactly what they are supposed to be, Army Strong.
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:28amHad trouble reading this, this cheap screen keeps getting blurry. My heart goes out to the parents of this special little guy,and as for the troops, they just acted the way soldiers do, with unlimited class.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:45amGod Bless our best and brightest!
Report Post »Tayper
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 11:28amSure hard to read through tears.
Report Post »thegrassroots
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 12:59pmGod Bless You, Brennan, With Good Health and a Long Life, In Jesus Name We Pray!
You are as much a Soldier as those Fine and Courageous Men and Women who shared your day!
The Heart Of A Soldier — Stellar And Above All! Thank You, Brennan Daigle, and All of America’s Soldiers Around the World! You Are America’s Best and Finest ……. You Are America’s Heroes!
Report Post »MetalPatriot
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:37pmCan’t even read this because the photo & title teared me up. These are REAL f*****g Americans.
Report Post »GEW
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 2:07pmGod Bless all our soldiers big and small. I love this story. Its wonderful. Thanks.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 3:12pmOver in the middle east, their soldiers are looking to annihilate and destroy. American soldiers do that as a last resort, but instead look to lift up and honor life. Gotta love America!
Report Post »lionslayer44
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 5:13pmyet another reason to be proud of America’s soldiers. Stay brave young man and may God Bless you
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:07amAnd this is why I always thought I had the best brothers and sisters in arms in the world. As an Army vet having served nearly two years over seas in the middle east and Korea, I had a hard time not tearing up while reading this. Not sure if it is because of the pride in my brothers and sisters or because of being a dad of two children, my son no less about Brennans age, but I barely made it through this article. My prayers to Brennan and family and to those that have given so much for so little in return.
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