Stacey and I shared the same birthday and were the same age to within hours. I don't remember any specific stories about him but I remember his smile and just having fun with him, and of course his blue Citation. I've thought of him often over the years as I have with many of you guys. I will miss him. Words are no good when it comes to significant loss. His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. I'm thankful for the time I had with him and the memories I have.

I do believe we have a hope and that one day everything will be set right. God is in control and Jesus is coming back. Our perspective is very limited compared to God's eternal perspective and life is difficult to understand when we can't see all the pieces. But he sees them all and we will understand someday. For now he asks us to trust him and then to support each other in love.

Gregg Chaddic

My heart aches for his family. I know we will all keep them in our prayers. Let's not forget to tell those around us how much we love them often.

Angela Bullock Register

As a mother of one of Stacey’s friends, I have to say that his presence was always full of fun and unpredictability. Carla was in school with Stacey from six grade until graduating from FLA. We have many fond memories of their class because it was the most unique eighth grade class there ever was at FLEEC. They were more like brothers and sisters. They enjoyed each others company, cared for each other, teased, laughed and just plain had fun together.

We worked with the pathfinders and shared many laughs with Stacey and Kevin. They were like two peas in a pod. We remember at the end of the year we took them all to Daytona Beach, because it had been an especially good year. Well, Stacey and Kevin decided to get balloons and filled them up with water. They started throwing them from the balcony to the pool deck below from the fifth or sixth floor. We came closed to being thrown out of the hotel. When it was bedtime rumor was that they were going to escape the room and Mr. Hamilton & Mr. Baez had to guard the doors to prevent their escape. For some reason, the memory of some of the other kids is not clear as Stacey and Kevin’s. They were just great kids and we loved them all as if they were our own.

My heart is breaking and there are no words that are adequate to make this pain go away for Stacey's parents and Jennifer. Nancy & Art, I am sorry, no parent should go through this. Please keep your eyes on God. He is the only hope and the only one that can give you peace. God bless your family and keep you in His care.

Jennifer, because of Stacey I met you. I went to the gift shop warehouse and you introduced yourself to me as Stacey’s wife. Thank you for that. Somehow you knew he was special to me. My prayers are for you and the Mastrapa family. Stacey will never be forgotten. I love you all.

Ellie Baez

I remember Stacey’s character mostly. He seemed always upbeat and genuine. I remember when my family moved during my 8th grade year, and I was unable to graduate with my FLEEC class, I was devastated. The class was kind enough to invite me to come back and graduate with them anyway. As much as I wanted to, I was too shy to be so bold as to do that. When I returned to Florida my Junior & Senior years at FLA, it was Kevin and Stacey who gave me the most "welcome back" feeling. These two guys never hesitated to say hello to me, always seemed genuinely interested in how I was doing, and even thought enough to ask about what happened back then that I didn’t accept the offer to come back and graduate with them. I guess it meant to me, I hadn’t been forgotten by moving away.

I remember Stacey’s Cheshire Cat smile. And something I remember about his character is that everyone mattered. I’m a poet and I remember feelings more so than incidents. Stacey gave me the feeling that I was never too "small" for him to talk to. No matter that we mostly hung out in different crowds, I was important too. When he said hello, he waited, to hear my response. I never knew how to thank him for that. But, maybe he knew.

I want to let Stacey’s family know that, at home, and at work (Kulaqua) we’ve said many prayers for you. And we’ll continue to ask God to fill you with strength, with courage, with peace. This will not be an easy time, but you will get through it and look back and wonder where that strength came from…Losing someone you love is not something you "get over", its something you learn to accept. God willing, that acceptance will come quickly.

Gale Varner Rulapaugh

For some reason this past week as I’ve thought of Stacey, these are the memories of him that have brought me comfort. I only saw Stacey one time since we were in school together, and that was at our 10 year FLA class of ‘88 reunion. When he and his wife walked into Bryan’s house, I honestly did not at first recognize the filled-out man with a buzz haircut that I once knew as skinny, long-haired Stacey–but I knew instantly who he was when he opened his mouth. The voice was the same, the smile was the same, and his contagious laugh hadn’t changed one bit! Yep, the Stacey who I knew nearly 10 years earlier had grown up. We recounted good memories together, and it didn’t take him long to ask if I was still a "mother hen" to those around me–a nickname he gave me on our senior class trip because I was always worried about everyone (including me) getting into trouble.

I have thought often of people I have met and classmates that I’ve had over the years, and I’ve wondered many times what they are doing now and if they are happy. My heart was terribly saddened when I heard the news of his heroic death, but upon hearing the news reports and the interviews of his co-workers and family, I was glad to know that he was happy and that many, many people were able to enjoy his personality so unique to him. Having two children myself now, I can only imagine what his wife and family are going through. My heart goes out to them. I am unhappy that I cannot go to Florida for the viewing and the funeral, but I pray that God help his family to remember the hope of heaven, and that He give them a peace that passeth all understanding during this time of great loss.

My favorite memories of Stacey are the comic relief he unfailingly provided during every class we shared. No matter the subject or the teacher, he always found a way to get everyone laughing--or the teacher sidetracked--for a good part of class. I'll never forget his smile and laugh--for that's what he always seemed to be doing!

I regret never meeting Stacey as the man he came to be: a husband, father and soldier. Surely his personality never changed and was only enriched by the character these responsibilities revealed. From all accounts, he is a hero.

I was so shocked to hear the news about Stacey via email earlier this week. A good man--a classmate and a brother--cut down in the prime of his life is hard to take! My heart daily aches for his family and dearest friends. We will keep you in our prayers.

Russ Miller

I hadn't spent much time with Stacey after high school. But, during our reunions over the years, it was clear that he was still the same funny guy. The only difference was that he had a family. It suited him well. My heart aches for Jennifer and the children.

Heroes come in many forms. Stacey is one of mine. He was serving all of us and paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I will forever be grateful. Thank you, Stacey. Thank you, Jennifer. Thank you, Marisa. Thank you, Reece. May God wrap your hearts with peace and with the assurance of a resurrection when we can all laugh with Stacey again.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Tim Burrill

I have enjoyed reading everyone's memories and stories of Stacey. I will never forget the ways in which Stacey enriched my life. I still cannot get out of my mind the memory of one of my last interactions with him. It happened some time ago on a Saturday night in a Target store in Altamonte Springs. By some fluke chance, I ran into Stacey along with two other FLA classmates (spouses and kids included) while shopping. It seemed we all turned a corner in the store at the same time and happened upon each other. We spent a few minutes getting caught up on the major events in each others' lives. We had a big laugh about what a difference 15+ years can make in our lives and how things have changed since our elementary and academy days. We were now "responsible" adults and parents. No more mullet haircuts but rather receding hairlines. No longer are we cruising I-Drive on a Saturday night but rather we were spending our Saturday night shopping at Target with spouse and kids in hand. Although the conversation was about all that had changed, one thing remained constant...Stacey's energy and love for life. It was only a brief interaction but I distinctly remember how happy he seemed and how proud he was of Jennifer and his kids. I remember sensing that the same fun-loving, caring and loyal friend Stacey was to us had overflowed exponentially to Jennifer and his kids. He will definitely be missed by all of us and I am proud to have been able to call Stacey my friend.

My heart hurts and aches for Jennifer, Marisa, Reece, the entire family and us...his friends. I pray that God will lessen the hurt we feel from the loss of a husband, father, son, brother and true friend.

I can remember in 6th grade, Stacey and a few of his guy friends had gotten in trouble (shocker, I know) and had to stay in from recess. He sat at my desk! I came in to get something from my desk and next thing I know a group of us are sent to the office for having a rather tasteless joke book in our possession. The office had copies made of some of the jokes (most adults would find humorous now) and told us to get them signed and returned by our parents. After school we decided to run away through the orange groves behind FLEEC. Stacey had a piano lesson and I would be hiding out at Debbie Illicks house so I had some time to figure out how I’d forge my parents signature (never happened). There was a helicopter flying overhead which Stacey had us hide from because he had to make the situation more intense by telling us it could very well be his parents wondering why he didn’t show up for his piano lesson right after school.

Needless to say this was only the beginning of many Stacey instigated adventures. I always loved hearing his version of stories remembered. They will be missed greatly. I’m pretty sure they would all start off with it wasn’t his idea, but whoever was with him at the time.

Stacey and I were voted most mischievous in high school. I remember being so proud to have been placed in that category with someone who truly deserved it. When I think of pathfinders, class trip, senior survival, and the biology trip to the Keys I now realize these are some of the best times of my life.

I met a few of Stacey’s close friends from his time in Iraq. In their stories, it dawned on me that his friendships from elementary school are so similar to his friendships he developed while in Iraq. It is comforting for me to know that Stacey was surrounded by people that knew him and loved him as much as we do. Thank you Junior, Elvin, and Fred for sharing your recent stories; they are healing in so many ways. I look forward to hearing more.

My heart goes out to all of his family and friends. Stacey will be missed, never forgotten and always loved. You are all in my prayers.

I wasn't "close" to Stacey in high school like some of you....but to him that didn't matter, and here's how I know.

On our 10 year reunion, things had changed a lot. My life was completely different then it had been at FLA. I was divorced with two very small children and was certainly not living the same life I had been the last time I saw our class.

During the class dinner that night, I snuck out to the back patio of the country club where we met to smoke a cigarette, hoping no one would notice....(yeah right!) and out comes Stacey with this huge smile on his face. He grinned at me and told me I looked awesome...then with a straight face asked me if I had had plastic surgery!!! LOL...I still retell that whenever FLA comes up in conversation. See, I was planning to leave within the next few minutes. I just wanted to go home to my world where I felt comfortable and understood, but Stacey changed that. He was warm and funny and the odd thing is that I remember the next thing he said so clearly. In fact it was such a small comment but it stuck with me. He said "yeah...I got old, bald and fat...."...then he grinned that huge adorable grin and said...but MAN am I happy!! He told me all about Jennifer and his beautiful baby girl and he whipped out a picture of her. Suddenly, I didn't feel like the odd man out. I felt like an old friend and we talked about kids and marriage and happiness. In that small moment I felt accepted and comfortable and I stayed for the rest of the evening. I never got a chance to thank him.

Jennifer, few women have the treasure you had in Stacey. You don't know me...although we met that night, but I want you to know that it was Stacey that made me feel warm and welcome that night. His smile and goofy comments melted the ice.

I have been blessed with a loving husband and 3 incredible kids. When I heard about Stacey's death I was so affected that I had to stop and ask my self why. I realized that so much of my time has been spent in things that don't matter. In fact, so many of the things I always said I would do I hadn't done. And I realized that now is now. You never know when you are saying I love you...or goodbye for the last time. I have felt different and lived different since that night.

I couldn't attend the service in person as we had a trip to Gatlinburg with our children planned for that week, but I had my laptop with me and from the mountains of Tennessee, I logged in and watched the service. I sat on the couch in the cabin with earphones on and cried. My children came and asked me why I was crying and I told them that a wonderful man, husband father, son, brother and friend had died defending our country and I was with my class saying goodbye. My children asked me to unplug the earphones and we sat on the couch together and watched the service.

After the service we went online and found the biggest, gooeyest chocolate cake we could find and had it sent to you and the kids...my children approved :)

With much love and respect,

Jamie Kruse Garrison