(WOAI) SAN ANTONIO - A North Texas woman says her mission is complete.
Bryson
Gappa, from Lewisville, vowed to honor every Texan killed in Iraq by
putting an ornament for each hero on her memorial tree.
Gappa said the seven-year project brought her closer to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Every ornament dangling from thel tree has a face and a name.
There are 434 ornaments on the tree.
"Seven
years later, it's the most important contribution I'll make in my
lifetime," said Gappa. "It's the most important thing I'll ever do."
Since
news of her ornament-laden oak trees broke, Gappa has heard from some
of the families and friends of those she honored - including a marine
who stopped by her house.
"We stood out here in the yard for
about two hours," said Gappa. "He told me about his friend Jesus from
Forth Worth, and that he was with Jesus that day in Iraq."
Gappa would now like to send the ornaments to the families of the fallen.
She said she would never call them, out of respect for their privacy, and is hoping they will contact her instead.
The ornaments will come down on New Year's Eve.
Gappa said her work is not finished.
She has another tree with ornaments of those lost in Afghanistan.
Gappa
asks that any families of the soldiers she honored who would like the
ornaments sent to them contact her at txmemorialtrees@gmail.com.
