In Memory of Cpl. Holly Charette

Holly and I were in the same unit in North Carolina and deployed to Iraq at the same time. She was damn good kid and a motivated Marine. We chatted often. I saw her almost every day. She was the inspiration to life in a desolated place by delivering happiness from her high spirits and mail.
I worked the casualty desk in Iraq from 0700 to 1900 everyday. I was devastated when her I saw her casualty report come across the desk. Not only for her but all that were lost and hurt in the attack. It was a very rough day then and still sometimes, you can't let things go. After 3 back to back deployments, this incident lays heavy on my mind still to this day. I have learned from this lesson in life and take it day to day to take care and get to know my Marines on a personal note. You never know what life brings. Semper Fidelis! You will never be forgotten. God bless and take care.

NOV/DEC 2009 issue of award-winning veterans newsletter "Flying InFormation" features photo and write up on Bike Run and scholarship info. www.americanlegionpost18ri.homestead.com. See NEWSLETTER tab.

to whome ever i meet holly when i was stationed in NC. she was a one of a kind i have a motorcycle that i have dedicated to the marines and to my friends who i have lost over the years. holly was one of those great friends i would love for the family to be able to see this bike if you can get ahold of me at anytime my phone number is 812-774-5165. She was the best and she could always make anyone smile i miss her much. My name is Sgt Copus and i was in HQ BN TRK Co. please get ahold of me

Ray Bott, I really like your post! right on!!!!

Very nice site!

Tear fell from heaven Sunday. I was honored to be there to catch some of them. God bless the Charette's and all of our troops.

I knew Holly since the beginning of high school, for her (I was a year ahead).  But I honestly didn't get to really know her until after I graduated.  Sure, she played soccer with my sister, Jocelyn.  I remember she certainly was a good sport when people teased her (and I was relentless when she played soccer), but that's not even close to her best qualities.

When I got to REALLY know her was my 1st year of college.  I always knew she had a great heart and I knew she was uplifting.  But she was there for me when I was away from home for the first time.  I would tell her about my failures in flight and she would laugh at me, because that's what we did to each other... but she always told me it would be ok and that I'd make it as a pilot.  It was that re-enforcement from her, plus her incredibly positive attitude that I really miss. 

When I look at her picture, besides thinking "wow, she's really not here anymore," I also think that the world really lost one of the most genuinely caring people I have ever known.  Not just because of what she did for me, but in general.  I've been fortunate to come across some deeply caring people in my lifetime, but she was one of the most passionate and unselfish persons I have ever met.

Being a  Patriot Guard Rider and a Viet Nam Vet,  I had the opportunity of attending the Dedication of the Cranston Post Office to Corporal Holly A. Charette on October 15, 2006.   God Bless Holly.

 

 

bumped into the site and am eager to support.  if I had to share 1 memory of the Holly Charette that I knew, I suppose it would resolve aroud the last time we spoke.  In all honestly, I have never looked at it this way till right now.  It was the last night of my time in Camp Johnson, NC sometime towards the last week of August, 2002.  I was scheduled to leave the next morning with my rotating class (Holly's class was 1 week behind mine).  I usually saw Holly every other day or so, and we always spoke (and often times hung out).  I told her that I was busy packing that night and didn't think I'd be able to find her to say good-bye.  I told her to please stop by my barracks room when she had the chance.  Well, that night, there was a storm, all the lights went out for hours (pitch black), and no one could really see anything around, so it was pretty inconvienent.  Around 9 or 10, to my suprise (under the circumstances of no lights/electricity and not being able to see or get around), she had found her way to my side of the barracks and ask around for the right room.  We spoke for several minutes, shared some laughs and memories, exchanged pictures, and said our goodbyes.

 

Out of the many memories i have, I feel that was the epetimy of Holly.  Always willing to go the extra mile, all the while carrying a smile and attitude that brought out the best of us.  I was in Iraq at the same time, and found out the news and couldn't have been more pissed of sad. 

 

I think this run/dinner is a great idea and hope it continues to run on successfully for all the years to come.  You can always count on e to support.  Semper Fi, Levi

June is here and the emptyness grows, we all know you would not want us to be sad and in pain. I will try to keep my chin up and remain steady for you.

i love you  & miss you  so much it hurts. with my tears i will smile and think of you laughing loud and clear. that will give me comfort.

thank you for being you,

Holly , there has not been a day that has gone by where I have not thought about you and missed you. I will always remember the awesome times we had together. thank you for being such a GREAT friend!  see you on the 23rd!

I want to say Raymond you did an excellent job on this page! It looks so nice! I guess I will be the first to reflect, Holly, you and your family have been a shining star in my life! Always being there when ever I needed a friend to talk too, or just laugh with! Holly you were an amazing friend, I know you were brought into my life for a reason! As we come up on Holly’s Anniversary, I will leave you all with Holly's senior year book quote that I have on my desktop at work “Never Say goodbye, Say nice knowing you, because it was"  I LOVE YOU HOLLY!