Luis Padilla ... proud to be an American

Luis Padilla smiled Friday as I took a photo of his America-loving truck and the memorial on the rear window to Lt. Col. Jeff White.

His truck is big ... his love for America bigger. Luis Padilla is a reminder of our respect and admiration for America ... and he is not ashamed to show it.

In the midst of his truck's red, white, and blue American flags, the American eagle, and stars and stripes, he has penned a memorial on the rear window:

"Lt. Col. Jeff White
An American Hero
RIP."

Jeff White, he told me, was a friend and he was as devastated as the rest of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area when Lt. Col. White unexpectedly passed away six weeks ago of a heart attack while singing in the church choir. He had just returned form a tour of duty in Iraq ... had survived war ... only to return home and die.

God works in mysterious ways....

Some may remember Luis as the man who was unfairly fired from his job in 2006 from Cargill Foods in Harrisonburg for having a message painted on the rear window of his vehicle supporting the Marriage Amendment. After outrage from many throughout the nation, Mr. Padilla was reinstated at Cargill.

My hat is tipped to you, Luis. May God bless America!

Past SWAC Girl posts about Luis Padilla's firing in 2006:

--- "So did you hear the one about the guy who got fired for supporting the Marriage Amendment?"
--- Valley man fired for supporting marriage
--- Intolerance from the Left?
--- "You're fired"

Photos by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
May 1, 2009

Lt. Col. Jeff White memorial service today ... Harrisonburg

Lt. Col. Jeff White ... "A Mighty Warrior for Family, Faith, and Freedom"
Saturday, April 25 ... 7 pm

From Dean Welty with the Valley Family Forum....

On March 1, Lt. Col. Jeff White, a close friend and strong supporter of the Forum, died of a massive heart attack while singing in the church choir where his family had been attending. Jeff had just been reunited with his wife Jocelyn and their three children after an 18-month tour in Iraq.

You are invited to attend a special memorial service for Lt. Col. White at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the People’s Baptist Church, which is located on U.S. 33 approximately one mile east of the Valley Mall in Harrisonburg.

As we noted at the time of his death, Jeff’s contribution of service to his Lord, his country, and to all who knew him exceeds our ability to measure or to fully appreciate. He was a devoted husband, father, and loyal friend whose bold and uncompromising commitment to biblical values and to the enduring principles of our nation’s founding was an inspiration and a challenge to us all.

Jocelyn and the children continue to reside in the Valley.

In continued sorrow for our loss but with deepest gratitude for a race well run, for battles well fought, for a life well lived, and for a rich legacy of service for us all.

We have lost a hero ... Lt. Col. Jeff White

He spent 18 months in Iraq ... he returned home to his wife and three young children a month ago ... he survived war. But on Sunday he was struck down by a heart attack that killed him.

His name was Lt. Col. Jeff White.

Many tributes are coming out of Harrisonburg today. This one, by Valley Family Forum leader Dean Welty, said it well:

A Mighty Warrior for Family, Faith, and Freedom

We were deeply saddened to learn yesterday of the death of Lt. Col. Jeff White, a resident of the Valley and a close friend of the Forum who had just returned about one month ago from an 18-month tour in Iraq.

Jeff was struck by a massive heart attack while singing in the choir of his family church in Texas where he had just been re-united with his wife Jocelyn and their three children: Jane, Jeanine, and Jedediah.

His contribution of service to his Lord, his country, and to all who knew him exceeds our ability to measure or to fully appreciate. He was a devoted husband, father, and loyal friend whose bold and uncompromising commitment to biblical values and to the enduring principles of our nation’s founding was an encouragement, an inspiration, and a challenge to all of us.

We will miss him greatly, and ask that you remember the family in your prayers.

In Sorrow for Our Loss but with Deepest Gratitude for a Race Well Run, a Life Well Lived, and a Rich Legacy of Service for Us All.

Dean

Ray Schneider, Harrisonburg GOP secretary and newsletter editor, sent out the following information:

Jeff's funeral will be in his home in Tullahoma, Tennessee where his mother lives. The family has asked that flowers be directed to the Tullahoma Funeral Home where the point of contact is Bob Burt at 931-455-4567.

I have forwarded emails of condolence sent to me to Jocelyn White and she asked me to thank you all for your prayers and your caring.

God bless this family at a time of such grief. Who knows God's plan ... to allow this man to survive war only to return home and die this way? Our prayers and thoughts are with Jocelyn and the children ... and our eternal thanks to this military man who served his God, served his family, and served our nation. He is truly an American hero.

Updated 3-4-09 - from Dean Welty:

Jocelyn White has informed us that the funeral for Lt. Col. Jeff White will be held at his mother’s home in Tennessee on Saturday. There is no word yet on whether there will be a later memorial service in the Valley.

She has also advised that instead of flowers, friends can make a contribution in Jeff’s memory to the Centurion Bible Society of the Shenandoah Valley, which he founded four years ago to raise money for ROTC graduates from JMU, or to the Valley Family Forum – “two organizations that were close to Jeff’s heart”.

You may send your condolences with enclosed gift if you so choose to 1739 Massanetta Springs Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

Humbled by Jeff’s heart.

Dean

Update: Harrisonburg Daily News Record editorial remembers Jeff White.