Solomon Carias Bangayan arrived in the United States in August 2000 from his native Philippines and moved to Jay, Vermont to live with his mother, Helen Therrien, and his stepfather, Leo Therrien. He loved his adopted country so much that he soon joined the U.S. Army, a decision that would end with him giving his life for the United States.

"He loved this country so much," Mrs. Therrien said. "He said living here was his dream come true." Mr. Bangayan was known by his friends, family, and fellow soldiers with the Army’s 82^nd Airborne Division as Kelly. “When he joined the Army he was so proud of himself. He wanted to defend this country.”

Kelly eventually shipped out for a tour of duty in Iraq. Thinking about their son, Mr. and Mrs. Therrien said when he arrived home during a short break from his duty in Iraq in the fall of 2003 he was a changed man. Although he no longer looked at war with excitement, he was still committed to the war. He confided in his stepfather that things were getting dangerous in Iraq and he feared this might be his last trip home. Following this conversation, shortly before going back to Iraq, Mr. Bangayan made a request that was out of character for him: "Can we go to church?"

The family went to a church in New Hampshire where Mr. Therrien's sister is a pastor. To the family's surprise, Mr. Bangayan raised his hand when the pastor asked if anybody in the congregation needed prayer offered to them. Their son was killed in an ambush on January 2, 2004. He wasn’t even an American citizen but he was willing to fight and die for a country he’d come to love. He is buried in his native Philippines.

"Sometimes it is still hard for me," Mrs. Therrien said. "But I keep thinking about my son's last words to me when he left. He told me if something should happen to me don't cry. I want you to be proud of me."

Although she misses her son, Mrs. Therrien said she does not believe her son died in vain. "He sacrificed his life for the people of Iraq. I am so proud of him."

The loss of her son has not caused her to lose the love for her adopted country. "I love this country," Mrs. Therrien said. "This is the land of freedom. It is where people can make their dreams come true.