We have heard and will continue to hear stories about how Mark affected people’s lives.  What we would like to do is talk a little about the three main people in Mark’s life who helped him become the person that he was able to be. 

It devastates me to see the grief my parents are experiencing right now at the loss of their son.  Earlier this week while my mother and I were rummaging through papers I noticed after a while that she was silent.  I went over to see that she found Mark’s birth certificate, and she softly told me that he had to be transported to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for treatment of newborn jaundice.  I saw my father this past Wednesday standing with his hand on Mark’s flag-draped coffin, quietly welcoming him back for the last time, telling Mark how proud he was of his son, and saying good bye.  No parent should have to experience the loss of one of their children. 
I want to thank our government, the US. Military and the men of SEAL team 5 who brought my brother home to us from Iraq.  The pains they took to bring him home, and the care and honor they gave him was very much appreciated.  I hadn’t expected to feel the urgency and importance I would have to have his body brought back to the US and laid to rest in San Diego.
If Mark were here today, I believe he would give all of us this piece of advice:  If you are a grandson, or a granddaughter: spend time with your grandparents. If you are a son, if you are a daughter: honor your parents and follow their direction.  If you are a parent daily make choices that are in the best interest of your child.  Spend quality time with them, listen to them, teach them.  Give them unconditional love, a consistent environment, and healthy boundaries.
Now. The most important person in Mark’s adult like is his wife, Sarah.  Sara Ochs and I had known each other when we were young, however, since I went to Cate boarding school and Sarah and I attended different universities, over time we lost touch with each other.  That is, until we met again about 11 or 12 years ago.  I was instantly impressed with Sarah’s exciting adventures, and immediately thought that I would like to set up my brother, Mark with Sarah.  Initially, he was mad that he had been “set up” on a “date” which included our entire family, including my grandmother.  He proceeded to talk to only my grandmother that evening, ignoring Sarah.  Later that night, however, he overheard Sarah telling someone else of her travel to far off lands and jumping out of airplanes, and the stories piqued his interest in her.  That was the start of a beautiful love affair. 
Mark and Sarah complimented each other perfectly. To see the twinkle in Mark’s eye when he would talk about Sarah made me happy.  He was so proud to have such a hot wife.  He talked her into wearing the sexy German beer wench costume – which had a very short skirt – for this past Halloween. 
We are so grateful to Sarah for loving our brother so perfectly. She helped him deal with his shortcomings.  Sarah started their family tradition of holding a weekly family meeting to go over the short- mid- and long-term goals they had for their family, and what they could do better to reach those goals. Sarah knew that Mark really loved this life he had chosen, and she selflessly allowed him to live his dream, even to the point of helping to sew his guilly suit that he had to wear to blend in to surroundings while he was going to sniper school. Being the wife of a Navy SEAL as you can imagine is very stressful.  Sarah had to endure long periods of time when Mark was overseas on some mission, always having in the back of her mind that he may not return home.  Sarah has now lost the love of her life.  She is going to be feeling the pain and the loss for a long time.  Fortunately, she has their daughter, Cora as a comfort and a blessing.  I encourage everyone as the months pass to keep Sarah and Cora in your thoughts and take good care of them.