Zachary's Story
July 26, 2013
The Zachary Dylan Smith Story
By Kim Smith, Zach's Mother
April 2, 1990 ----January 24, 2010
Zachary Dylan Smith entered this world on April 2, 1990 and was a very big blessing to our family. He was a joy to raise and he was always on the move. Zach was welcomed by his older brother Nate and they became the best of friends. I know growing up Zach certainly looked up to his brother as Nate worked hard at his academics and when playing sports. Zach had to work very hard and school was not easy for him, but never complained about going. When Zach was 9, we added little Gracie to our family and he was such a great big brother to her. He adored her and would do anything to hold her and when she got older he would play with her, both boys were so good to her.
We had a perfect life, a great marriage, three beautiful healthy good kids, a nice home to raise them in, good jobs that allowed for us to be secure and stable, a great community, wonderful friends and family and most importantly we had our faith. It was almost scary, too good to be true. Nate went off to college in 2005 and Zach was determined the United States Marine Corps was where he was headed as soon as he graduated. My job was to make sure that we remained a close family and that really turned out not to be a job at all…it is what we are.
Zach was so outgoing when he was little, and never outgrew it. Zach loved people and loved to help in anything that needed to be done. If he got something in his head, he wasn’t happy until it was done. Growing up – he would stop after school at the local gas station on the way home, and if it was someone’s birthday in the house he was stopping and either buying candy or flowers. He would buy these with his own money and was so pleased to give little gifts of love.
Zach would stop and talk to anyone, young or old. If he felt that you needed some help, he would always ask and was genuine in wanting to help. Zach balanced school, sports and a job at our local grocery store, Wegmans- and worked as a cashier, maintenance and also helping hands. I miss my trips to Wegmans because if he was working you could always find him talking to and helping customers, almost like the Mayor of Wegmans. I have many people come up to me telling me that their shopping is not the same without Zach’s added touch.
With balancing all of the normal…Zach also had to balance this little lovely girl, Anne Deebs, which he quickly fell in love with the summer before his Senior Year. Zach and Anne had something special right from the beginning. He told Anne “No girl will ever keep me from my dream of becoming a US Marine”. As a little time went by and Anne was still by Zach’s side I could tell this was going to be tough for when he went into the Marines in July. They enjoyed his senior year, Zach graduated and he left 10 days after Graduation for boot camp. Zach was gone for 3 months and no communication with him other than good old fashion letter writing.
Zach graduated October 3, 2008 and had fulfilled his dream as he was a United States Marine. Zach had a lot of training, and Anne finished out her Senior Year of High School –but whenever Zach had the opportunity to come home- Anne dropped whatever she was doing and they spent time together. Zach proposed to Anne in April of 2009- after he talked to Mr. and Mrs. Deebs (Mike and Andrea) in December of 2008-and received their blessing. Zach was told that he would be deploying in August and there was more in Zach’s future as he wanted to get married before he left as well. Zach was adamant about getting married and even said to me when we really didn’t have a lot of time to plan a wedding, that if something ever happened to him, he wanted to KNOW that he married the girl he loved. Needless to say we four parents were elated that these two would get married as their love was just simply beautiful to watch.
Zach’s deployment date changed numerous times, and Anne and Zach drove/flew up and down the East Coast every possible weekend to spend time with each other. Zach’s last trip home was the end of November, and still didn’t know that it would be his last trip home. Once he got back to Camp Lejeune his unit was deploying before Christmas. Once Anne received the news, she was making flight arrangements on the next plane out. They spent a week together, and we drove down to spend the weekend with them and then were to bring Anne back home.
His Dad and I had this awful feeling that we would never see him again…..but we didn’t talk about it. We were in separate cars and we drove home and it was the longest ride ever, can’t even explain it. Our lives were changing with our boys growing up and moving on.
Zach called home when he could, but it wasn’t a lot. Christmas obviously was hard for all of us, but we were very lucky to get a phone call from him and we were so glad to talk to him. Zach was learning what he needed to learn there and they were moving into a very dangerous place.
A mere 39 days later, we had 2 Marines and a Hornell Policeman at our door. Zach had been killed, stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) while out on a foot patrol. They were on a mission and it turned bad, Zach was a point man and an expert rifleman and was ordered to go to this one building and help. Zach followed orders and others were able to get to safety. January 24, 2010 is a day I wish could have turned out different. Zach had so many dreams.
Zach accomplished a lot in 19 years… he was the kind of kid that turned into a great man….and that you just wonder what more he could have done down here on Earth? He loved people and he loved to help and make things better.
The support that we have is unbelievable, our family, friends, community and also people that don’t even know us but just want to help keep Zach alive in any way they can. We are so appreciative for this support, couldn’t begin to put one foot in front of the other if we didn’t have friends that are always around to keep making us function and live.
This is by far the hardest thing we will ever have to do, to live our earthly life incomplete with Zach in Heaven. I know with all my heart that I will see him again when it is my time, until then Zach will stay with me and guide me to get through this life on Earth……why would he stop helping people just because he physically is not here? He didn’t change….our world did when he was called Home.
Kim Smith----one very proud mother of a beautiful child that went to Heaven before me. And 2 more that I am so proud of everything they do, they have been dealt a rough hand, but they are holding their heads high and living their lives and keeping Zach close to their heart at all times...…I am truly blessed to have a wonderful husband and our kids to spend the rest of our lives with…here and in heaven. “A family is a Journey to Forever”.
April 2, 1990 ----January 24, 2010
Zachary Dylan Smith entered this world on April 2, 1990 and was a very big blessing to our family. He was a joy to raise and he was always on the move. Zach was welcomed by his older brother Nate and they became the best of friends. I know growing up Zach certainly looked up to his brother as Nate worked hard at his academics and when playing sports. Zach had to work very hard and school was not easy for him, but never complained about going. When Zach was 9, we added little Gracie to our family and he was such a great big brother to her. He adored her and would do anything to hold her and when she got older he would play with her, both boys were so good to her.
We had a perfect life, a great marriage, three beautiful healthy good kids, a nice home to raise them in, good jobs that allowed for us to be secure and stable, a great community, wonderful friends and family and most importantly we had our faith. It was almost scary, too good to be true. Nate went off to college in 2005 and Zach was determined the United States Marine Corps was where he was headed as soon as he graduated. My job was to make sure that we remained a close family and that really turned out not to be a job at all…it is what we are.
Zach was so outgoing when he was little, and never outgrew it. Zach loved people and loved to help in anything that needed to be done. If he got something in his head, he wasn’t happy until it was done. Growing up – he would stop after school at the local gas station on the way home, and if it was someone’s birthday in the house he was stopping and either buying candy or flowers. He would buy these with his own money and was so pleased to give little gifts of love.
Zach would stop and talk to anyone, young or old. If he felt that you needed some help, he would always ask and was genuine in wanting to help. Zach balanced school, sports and a job at our local grocery store, Wegmans- and worked as a cashier, maintenance and also helping hands. I miss my trips to Wegmans because if he was working you could always find him talking to and helping customers, almost like the Mayor of Wegmans. I have many people come up to me telling me that their shopping is not the same without Zach’s added touch.
With balancing all of the normal…Zach also had to balance this little lovely girl, Anne Deebs, which he quickly fell in love with the summer before his Senior Year. Zach and Anne had something special right from the beginning. He told Anne “No girl will ever keep me from my dream of becoming a US Marine”. As a little time went by and Anne was still by Zach’s side I could tell this was going to be tough for when he went into the Marines in July. They enjoyed his senior year, Zach graduated and he left 10 days after Graduation for boot camp. Zach was gone for 3 months and no communication with him other than good old fashion letter writing.
Zach graduated October 3, 2008 and had fulfilled his dream as he was a United States Marine. Zach had a lot of training, and Anne finished out her Senior Year of High School –but whenever Zach had the opportunity to come home- Anne dropped whatever she was doing and they spent time together. Zach proposed to Anne in April of 2009- after he talked to Mr. and Mrs. Deebs (Mike and Andrea) in December of 2008-and received their blessing. Zach was told that he would be deploying in August and there was more in Zach’s future as he wanted to get married before he left as well. Zach was adamant about getting married and even said to me when we really didn’t have a lot of time to plan a wedding, that if something ever happened to him, he wanted to KNOW that he married the girl he loved. Needless to say we four parents were elated that these two would get married as their love was just simply beautiful to watch.
Zach’s deployment date changed numerous times, and Anne and Zach drove/flew up and down the East Coast every possible weekend to spend time with each other. Zach’s last trip home was the end of November, and still didn’t know that it would be his last trip home. Once he got back to Camp Lejeune his unit was deploying before Christmas. Once Anne received the news, she was making flight arrangements on the next plane out. They spent a week together, and we drove down to spend the weekend with them and then were to bring Anne back home.
His Dad and I had this awful feeling that we would never see him again…..but we didn’t talk about it. We were in separate cars and we drove home and it was the longest ride ever, can’t even explain it. Our lives were changing with our boys growing up and moving on.
Zach called home when he could, but it wasn’t a lot. Christmas obviously was hard for all of us, but we were very lucky to get a phone call from him and we were so glad to talk to him. Zach was learning what he needed to learn there and they were moving into a very dangerous place.
A mere 39 days later, we had 2 Marines and a Hornell Policeman at our door. Zach had been killed, stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) while out on a foot patrol. They were on a mission and it turned bad, Zach was a point man and an expert rifleman and was ordered to go to this one building and help. Zach followed orders and others were able to get to safety. January 24, 2010 is a day I wish could have turned out different. Zach had so many dreams.
Zach accomplished a lot in 19 years… he was the kind of kid that turned into a great man….and that you just wonder what more he could have done down here on Earth? He loved people and he loved to help and make things better.
The support that we have is unbelievable, our family, friends, community and also people that don’t even know us but just want to help keep Zach alive in any way they can. We are so appreciative for this support, couldn’t begin to put one foot in front of the other if we didn’t have friends that are always around to keep making us function and live.
This is by far the hardest thing we will ever have to do, to live our earthly life incomplete with Zach in Heaven. I know with all my heart that I will see him again when it is my time, until then Zach will stay with me and guide me to get through this life on Earth……why would he stop helping people just because he physically is not here? He didn’t change….our world did when he was called Home.
Kim Smith----one very proud mother of a beautiful child that went to Heaven before me. And 2 more that I am so proud of everything they do, they have been dealt a rough hand, but they are holding their heads high and living their lives and keeping Zach close to their heart at all times...…I am truly blessed to have a wonderful husband and our kids to spend the rest of our lives with…here and in heaven. “A family is a Journey to Forever”.