What a beautiful testament of our Lord hand at work. Our prayers are continually with your family.

We read this tonight as a family and are very moved by Gabe's life and sacrifice. Thank you!

Thinking of Gabe on this Memorial Day 2010 with heartfelt thankfulness for his life, his testimony, and his sacrifice. We will never forget. Hannah, thank you for your unwavering and steadfast faith in God. What an amazing example you are to all of us.

I'm thankful that Caleb and Christina sent a message today that directed us to this site. On this Memorial Day, it is most meaningful to have ONE story, one family, one sacrifice to focus on with thankfulness. Thankful for Gabe's faithful service. Thankful for his life lived for the glory of God. Thankful for your family!

I would like to thank the Deroo family for raising such a great son. May God bless his surviving wife and child.
Vladimir and Vera Yeremeyev.

Very inspiring story! No sacrifice is in vain. Eternity will prove the great investment it is! May God bless your family.

Memorial Day 2010: Thanks to SGT Gabriel DeRoo and all others who have served and given their lives for our country.

It's Mother's Day today. I am missing you Gabriel. I have see or heard from all your sisters but there is still a hole in my heart where you filled it. Looking forward to seeing you again on day.
Much love,
Mom

Dear Hannah & Family,
It's been some time since I've visited Gabe's site, and I find myself sitting here reading the guestbook, soaking in the words of each entry, and recognizing how deeply his life continues to touch people. It only took 3 or 4 entries before the tears slowly filled my eyes yet again. I humbly thank God for such a dear brother, a man who feared no one, yet loved all. I thank God for you, too, Hannah, and your family. Know that Gabe always lives on in our hearts. The memories are precious and we're given much hope as we know we'll see him again in a far better place! Meanwhile, may the Lord's richest blessings continue to be with you!

To the DeRoo family: I'm the Commander of the Augusta-Custer VFW Post # 7956, in Augusta. On Friday, March 26, 2010, we had a Benefit Dinner, at our Post, to help the Veterans that are located in the Stone Cottage, in Galesburg, Michigan. This establishment is going to be closed very soon and our hearts go out to them, because we want them to be re-located somewhere that they can be comfortable for the remainder of their lives. But nothing touched us closer than the meeting of the Mother of this great Soldier and Gentleman. His life should be a template for all that care to follow in his footsteps. The message on his gravestone tells it all. I am personally very, very sorry that I could not have met this man before his demise. Our hearts and souls go out to his family, wife and child. If ever there is a need for assistance from this family, in any way, we would do anything within our power to see that it is done.
Don Keglovitz, Commander, Post #7956, Augusta, Mi., 49012
Don

As a teacher at the school where Gabe graduated, I am proud to know that he served both his country and the Lord with such dedication and valor.

Today (Veteran's Day, 2009) I read aloud in history class the account of his life and work from the tract, after which the class prayed and offered thanks to God for Gabe's life and testimony.

May God keep and bless all who loved him, his family especially and friends.

Garry Fisher, Instructor in Bible and History

Grace Christian School, Watervliet, MI

Dear Hannah,

Not a week goes by that I am sure someone in our graduating class doesn't reflect on Gabe and the inspiration that he gave us all. Still today I think of him and you and your precious baby. I wish that I could have attended the memorial service but wasn't able to make it. What a wonderful person Gabe was and his testimony will continue to live on. He was a true warrior for our Lord and we are all honored to have had him in our lives at one point. I was just going through old photos of school and his smile was infectuous. That is something that appears to have been passed on to your son. I hope all is well for you and your family and please remember that he will never be forgotten.

Dear Hannah and the Deroo Family,
Derek and I can hardly fathom it has been three years now. We talk about the wonderful times with Gabe often. I cried when I heard Derek tucking Jackson into his crib one night telling him about a hero he knew named Gabe and how Gabe was with Jesus but always watching over us. We miss him terribly. Our thoughts and prayers are always with you guys.

I think of your husband, son, and brother often. I was in attendance of his memorial at the Fircrest church and was moved by the way he led his life, so honorable. I had just returned from my first tour in Iraq and after his memorial my wife and I decided to name our son Gabriel Robert.

Your son lives on in spirit and is still touching people he never knew. Though his absence in this world hard, he sits next to the Lord and continues to watch over us all from Heaven.

Robert

We are saddened to learn of Sgt Gabriel Deroo's death, and we pray the Lord will comfort his family and the friends who knew him. We are deeply indebted to Gabriel and all those who have given their lives for the cause of freedom.

Phil and Julie Mattern

My husband grew up in Lawton, so I read the Courier Leader often. When I read the story of Garbiel Deroo, i was so moved and the tears were a mixture of grief and joy. His testimony had to be shared - i sent his obituary and story to everyone in my address book. I wanted people to know his testimony and his wifes, because I know they both made that decision for military service. May God bless Hannah and her children and it will be great when those who believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ meet in Heaven. May his legacy live on through his children. And even these few years later, I still share his testimony unto the Glory of the Living God.

I liked your site.

My daughters (7yrs&6yrs) greeted me at the door today saying they had met a real soldier. They handed me the Mission Accomplished pamphlet that talks of Gabe's life. A few soldiers had visited their school today talking about their service and sharing what happened to Gabe. They said he was their brother. What an amazing person and great example for me to be able to share with my kids. Thank you for creating this pamphlet and sharing Gabe's life with us. We will pray for you and your beautiful son. I look forward to meeting Gabe one day.
In Christ, Mike

"Prayer Shawls 4 Fallen Soldiers is an organization of over 235 knitting groups throughout the country. Since October of 2007, we have sent out more than 2,900 prayer shawls to the families of our fallen soldiers. If you or a family member would like to receive a hand knit prayer shawl in the memory of Gabriel, please contact me at barbconway@comcast.net or 774 487-8618.
Sincerely, Barbara Conway

Dear DeRoo Family,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My mom, Carol, just told me about Gabriel. We used to go to church with you, and I babysat for Gabriel a couple of times when I was a teenager. (I was Michelle Parish then). My son Andrew, was recently in Iraq for his second tour, so it hits pretty close to home. My heart is with you, and may God bless you, and peace be with you.
Sincerely, Michelle Marcus