From mom to 'Beautiful Boy'

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156 days ago: Amid tears, grief, mourners recall fallen soldier’s laughter, talents

164 days ago: Baltimore County Marine dies in crash

165 days ago: Nottingham soldier, two weeks from home, volunteered for fatal mission

182 days ago: Family remembers soldier’s love of sports, kin, PB&J sandwiches

249 days ago: 'I've been here a lifetime'

249 days ago: Steadfast soldier understood sacrifice

252 days ago: A soldier's final words

» 252 days ago: From mom to 'Beautiful Boy' «

262 days ago: Mom: 'Something wasn’t right’

263 days ago: ‘Forever missing you, sweet boy’

(Courtesy photo)
Ari Brown-Weeks and his bride, Ashley, celebrate their wedding day with Ari’s parents, Jon Weeks and Karyn Brown.

On Dec. 15, a Celebration of Life for Ari D. Brown-Weeks was held in Greenfield, Mass. He grew up in Leyden, Mass., moved to Abingdon in 2005 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. At the service, Ari’s mother, Karyn Brown, paid tribute to her fallen son. Her words follow:

Thank you everyone for being here to celebrate the life of our beloved Ari. As the story of Ari’s death unfolds, and Ashley [his wife], Jon [his father] and I continue to get the details of the worst day of our lives, I look inside my fragile heart to focus on the memory of Ari as the happy, beautiful person, so full of life and potential, that he was. I wondered what to say about him at this event ... and then it became clear that I wanted to focus on the happiest moments of my life with Ari, because they were the happiest moments of Ari’s life.

This week last year, on Dec. 10, Ari’s goal of marrying his soul mate was fulfilled. He had looked for the woman of his dreams since he was about 12, and he and Ashley found each other in 2005 when Ari was 21. They spent time together, Ari decided to go into the Army, and during that time they decided to get married. While military training was a profound and life-changing goal fulfilled, Ari’s relationship with Ashley was the rainbow leading to the pot of gold, their commitment of marriage.

Ari was never happier than on his wedding day. You should have seen him, and some of you did, rosy cheeks like two shiny apples, blue eyes sparkling, his famous smile, as big as could be, fixed on his beautiful face, so proud, dancing, playing, conversing, hugging, kissing, gracefully moving from guest to guest, to Ashley, to friend, to Ashley, to family, to Ashley, to everyone, and back to Ashley, making all feel special and important to him.

Ari was a vision to behold. He had his reluctant grandmother dancing with confidence in her stocking feet, and loving it. His reserved and proper grandfather laughed with abandon, when Ari’s head disappeared under Ashley's wedding dress to retrieve the traditional garter, untraditionally, in his teeth. He received a face full of wedding cake good-naturedly from his new bride and refrained from returning the favor, beaming at Ashley's mischievous smile.

Ari even seemed pleased that I sang, in its entirety, John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy” into his ear while we danced, as I did at bedtime when he was little and more forgiving.

Ari was so himself, so genuine, so exuberant, in his element, basking in all our love, as well as his own. Jon and I were filled with pride and happiness for the responsible, committed, accomplished caring person Ari had become. We imagined the future with all the anticipation of things to come for Ari and Ashley, their family, and all who love them. Our world was filled with hope and promise for our precious son and our lovely new daughter-in-law.

And now, to the present.

My memories of the glorious day of Ari and Ashley's wedding bring me much joy, but they are also the source of unrelenting sorrow for the loss of our beloved Ari. He still had so much to do, so much more of life to experience, and my heart breaks for him that he didn't get the opportunity to continue in this life that he loved so well.

SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY

EMAIL STORY

PRINT STORY

156 days ago: Amid tears, grief, mourners recall fallen soldier’s laughter, talents

164 days ago: Baltimore County Marine dies in crash

165 days ago: Nottingham soldier, two weeks from home, volunteered for fatal mission

182 days ago: Family remembers soldier’s love of sports, kin, PB&J sandwiches

249 days ago: 'I've been here a lifetime'

249 days ago: Steadfast soldier understood sacrifice

252 days ago: A soldier's final words

» 252 days ago: From mom to 'Beautiful Boy' «

262 days ago: Mom: 'Something wasn’t right’

263 days ago: ‘Forever missing you, sweet boy’