May is a great month of new beginnings, flowers, Mothers Day, Memorial Day. A time to love, dance, smile and feel the refreshing air until suddenly you lose a loved one.

One local family has been finding ways to give hope and honor to their son, brother, husband, father and most important their veteran, USMC CPL Christopher Stull, who passed away at age 25, tragically on May 3, 2016.

The family came together giving mother Jeanette Elwell Cossin a special Mother’s Day but it was in Stull’s honor and memorial May 12 at the First United Presbyterian Church in Silver Creek, officiated by Pastor Thomas Burian.

It was a beautiful service where sister Julia Elwell sang Stull’s favorite song “Hallelujah” with lyrics rewritten by Stull’s twin Christina Stull.

Organist Nancy Krestic led everyone in songs all could sing like “Amazing Grace.” It was a surprise for the family to have the presence of active duty Corporal Mike Elwell, currently stationed in Hawaii, recruit from Stull and cousin and brother US Army Specialist Jessie Barns who flew in from California.

Cpl. Stull was a brother who left a positive impact on others. This family is enduring the effects of PTSD on America’s soil, the war at home, and is part of the reason the Dwyer Memorial fund was included in the state budget and passed this year, according to state Sen. Catharine Young and Assemblyman Andy Goodell. The Vets for Vets program is underway and in high need for our returning vets.

USMC Stull served in Afghanistan and will be highly missed. The Veterans Crisis Line is 800-273-8255.