Faces of Freedom
KINGSTON -- Pfc. Dawid Pietrek was a 24-year-old Polish immigrant and Bensenville resident who once worked as a home caregiver for an elderly Elmhurst man until the man died at age 88.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1272096,3_1_EL11_A1FACES_S1.article
November 11, 2008
By DENISE MORAN For The Courier News
Pietrek joined the U.S. Marines with hopes of eventually becoming a U.S. citizen and police officer.
He died June 14, 2008, in a roadside bomb attack in southwestern Afghanistan in Farah Province.
Pietrek's fellow Marines who also died that day were Sgt. Michael Toussaint-Hyle Washington, 20, of Tacoma, Wash., Lance Cpl. Layton Bradly Crass, 22, of Richmond, Ind., and Pfc. Michael Robert Patton, 19, of Fenton, Mo.
While the media might have reported that four Marines were killed in Afghanistan that day, the ones who knew these men would want people to know more about their sacrifice.
Tanner Cleveland of Kingston, who is now serving as a Marine in Afghanistan, was Pietrek's roommate. When Tanner joined his squad, there were 30 Marines. The squad is now down to 23.
Tanner was in the vehicle behind the one Pietrek was riding in when the attack occurred. Pietrek died in Tanner's arms.
Tanner's mother, Jennifer, is making sure people know about Pietrek and other young men like her son by making custom military car magnets known as Faces of Freedom. The car magnets show support for the men and women who serve.
"Faces of Freedom was created as a way to put faces on our troops," Jennifer said. "We hear about the troops killed, the troops deployed, the troops coming home. I just wanted to put their faces out there for the world to see."
"These are the people who protect us every day," Jennifer added. "Faces of Freedom represents not only the faces of today but also the faces of yesterday -- those who are in active duty, retirees, and killed in action. We all know someone who has served. We should be proud of what these people represent. Without them, we would not be free. We would not be the America we are today."
Jennifer grew up in Genoa as did her husband, Bill. Both graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School. The Cleveland family moved to Kingston four years ago. The couple have four children -- Tanner, Rhealene, 14, and 10-year-old twins Gage and Brenton -- and Tanner's dog, an American Staffordshire named Semper.
"Semper Fidelis" is Latin for "always faithful." Americans recognize it as the motto for the U.S. Marine Corps.
"Our hearts are with all the families who have been in our shoes, are in our shoes, and will be in our shoes," Jennifer said. "Always, our hearts are with those families whose shoes we hope we don't ever walk in. This is truly the hardest thing we have ever done. My heart aches every day, praying for their safe return home."
Faces of Freedom supports every branch of the U.S. military.
"Our personalized military car magnets are printed on outdoor, waterproof vinyl," Jennifer said. "We then laminate the printed vinyl to a .03 mil magnet for durability. Finally, our last step is to place a protective coating of UV vinyl on top to ensure our product has even more strength and fade resistance to protect against nature's elements."
"Everything purchased from Faces of Freedom is made right here in northern Illinois," added Jennifer. "We do not send anything out."
Jennifer began selling the magnets, for $19.99 each, in September. She has currently sold 200 magnets.
Tanner and members of his squad will be the ones to decide where money from the sale of the magnets will best be spent, Jennifer said.