In Loving Memory of Anthony Vincent Lopez

From The Wright Family

Adios Mi Amigo

 SPC Gamberdella, Here First Sergeant, SPC Mancini, Here First Sergeant, SPC Rice, Here First Sergeant, SSG Roff, Here First Sergeant, SGT Lopez, SGT Lopez, SGT Lopez, First Sergeant, strike him from the roll.

 You cannot even begin to know how hard those words are to hear when it is someone you love. 

 I feel compelled to tell you about a great soldier, SGT Anthony Lopez, stationed in Hohenfels Germany, who purchased a brand new Harley Davidson that he had been dreaming of for 20 years.  Anthony was an experienced rider who shared his passion of motorcycles with his father.  In fact, Anthony in Germany and his father in Chicago would talk nearly every night about where they had been riding and where they would go next.  Unfortunately, Anthony only had two glorious weeks with his shiny new toy.  Regrettably, we lost our soldier to that shiny new toy this past weekend and we will never be the same.  I’d like to say that it is my great pleasure to have had him as my friend.  Anthony was straightforward, you never had to mince words with him, we’d just tell it like it was, and that’s how he wanted it.  That is what I’m doing in this letter, telling it like HE was.  You see; he was the husband of my best friend and the father of a beautiful 5-year-old girl.  Our first encounter with the Lopez family was the beginning of an incredible journey, a kinship, if you will, between two families.  Not once, from the time we met, was there a moment’s doubt about the friendship, not a single snag along the way, not even a slight misunderstanding, we were friends and that was that.  Nothing came between the Lopez family and the Wright family.  It will always be that way, even though one piece of the puzzle is now missing.  Anthony would have wanted it that way and we wouldn’t have it any other way.  SGT Anthony Lopez was a great man, a wonderful father, and an amazing soldier.  He was a husband first, a father second, and a soldier all the way.  He was intelligent, brave, thorough, and kind and will be missed significantly.  The Anthony we knew had such a free spirit.  He loved to play, laugh and win, yes he loved to win.  He was so funny; you could tell how much he cared for you by the amount of razzing he gave you.  If he wasn’t giving you a hard time then you weren’t his friend.  We loved every goofy thing that he said and did. I cannot imagine him gone and I know that there are a great number of people today who will not be the same without him.  So good night our dear friend, and sweet dreams.  

Originally from Anthony:  VROD Baby!!!

                                                Ronni M Wright

                                                Hohenfels, Germany