This is a letter that was
written by Joshua's teacher and was published in a
local paper. I have retyped it from the original copy because the original
could not be read on here.
Angels Among Us
Dear Editor,
As parents, we all think our children are angels. They do
no wrong in our eyes.
Cindy and Lee had three little angels. Tyler and Josh were killed in a terrible senseless accident.
They still have little five-year-old Sarah, who seems to be very special. In an article I read, Sarah told her mom and dad she knew Tyler and Josh weren't coming back but she knew they were with Jesus and in her heart.
This mother and father lost two little precious boys. Through their loss the people in our community, Pine Prairie, should have learned a lot. Those who knew Josh and Tyler had to know these boys were special.
Josh was my fourth-grade student. His desk has been untouched except for the notes and pictures his classmates have written and drawn for him and taped to his desk.
Monday, when we gathered in class for the first time after the accident, I realized how special Josh was. He had taught thesefourth grade students so much about life. As we sat and talked and cried, these students expressed their emotions and feelings about Josh.
Some said they like the stories he told, some told about play ground activities while others described camping trips. Josh taught us something about responsibilities, values, morals, and priorities.
One student expressed that he would try to be more responsible and turn in his assignment sheet like Josh did each day. Name brand shoes and materialistic items were not on Josh's list.
His number one priority was being with his brother Tyler. These two were inseparable. At recess, they would give each
other a big hug and play together. When Tyler was
absent because of a doctor's appointment, Josh was sad, so I
knew he was thinking of him.
Josh often spoke of his mom and dad and how they always did things together, going to church, fishing, or working in the garden. He knew what family was. At his funeral, his mom told me he had cut the grass with the riding mower for the first time. "He was so proud." she said.
In the end, the boys got what they wanted most: To be toget her. They were separated for the short ride to the hospital, but now lay side by side for Josh to watch over Tyler just as he did each night in their bunk beds.
These two very special little angels now watch over their family and classmates. They have touched the lives of so many people around them.
Cindy and Lee, if all of our little angels turn out like Josh and Tyler, we will see them altogether one day where they can
never be separated by senseless accidents like the one that
took them from you.
Jane Deville
Pine Prairie
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This picture was taken a few days after he was killed. I was told several students from his class and other classes would bring momentos and put on his desk during the school day. His desk remained like this untill the end of the school term. This picture was published in a newspaper. |
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