https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/california-based/brandon-t-lara/ The latest user comments on Brandon T. Lara en-us https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c184795 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c184795 Michael, my brother, I remember the days we spent in the Comm shack while we waited to go on our next patrol in Haditha. Man, it was a great time, we gave out haircuts, talked music, traded movies, and drew graffiti for future tattoos!!! You weren't a coworker, you were a friend, a brother.... The heat in Iraq would irritate us as we walked for miles and hours with only short breaks. But, you were always right there and ready for anything that came up... Thanks for being such a great friend and like a brother, may you rest in peace and keep your eyes on us from up above as you guard those gates in your dress blues. Semper Fi Devil Dog. Tue, 14 Jun 2016 03:35:01 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c146131 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c146131 he gave me my ps2 that i have today i looked up to him as a father firgure.. and i miss him more and more every day he was a great man Thu, 06 Mar 2014 06:31:40 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c136134 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c136134 Mike was my flight commander in afjrotc at Hemet High School in 2003 a year before he graduated the world will miss him May God watch for him and his family Sat, 26 Oct 2013 03:37:32 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c118047 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c118047 My heart weighs heavy the lose of you still pains me all our memories going to six flags, picking me up from school going to get slurped and got Cheetos everytime at seven eleven you teaching me to drive. I have to believe ur my guardian angel I crash by the cemetery last year my car flipped 5 times across the fence and landed right next to the train track and yet in living waking breathing and I can't but I felt ur presence that day I live you and miss you so much . I Remeber the last time we talked June 6 I got my driver license you called and I had so much to tell you I thank god everyday for letting me speak to you one last time ... I live you and miss you and visit you often Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:22:39 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c115659 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c115659 Never forget you mike almost 7 years feels like yesterday miss you and frank . See you soon mike I will never forget you. I know your in good hands . Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:21:45 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c115658 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c115658 Man mike almost 7 years it feels like yesterday i will never forget you and frank you guys will always be in my heart and in my prayers miss u Estrella's bros.iwill never forget you mike it still hurts but I know your in good hands. See you soon. Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:12:18 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c70803 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c70803 I have very vague memories of you. I am not sure if you knew me, but I lived next to you for quite sometime and I was friends with your sisters. I knew you were a Marine. Your family was/is sooo proud of that. I remember that after Jessica and the rest of your family moved, I had lost contact with her. We had walked to school most of the time together, other times we would get rides. But for the most part we were fairly good friends. After she moved I always wondered about her and your younger siblings. Then, sometime at the beginning of my Junior year at HHS, there was a small assembly in the Theatre to honor those students who had lost their lives in Iraq. I sat up in my seat as soon as they as said "Estrella". I knew it was you. I just kept saying to myself "Oh No! That's Jessica's brother!". They brought members of your family up and my heart sank. I could not imagine the pain they were suffering. After the assembly, I went up to Jessica and her eyes were still swollen and red. All I could do was hug her and hoped that I could make her feel at least a little bit better. How can you replace someone who meant so much? How can you help someone who is hurting so bad? I never knew you as a person. But from knowing your siblings, I know you were an amazing person. You made a difference. You are greatly missed. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:59:20 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c58214 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c58214 Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am in a thousand winds that blow, I am the softly falling snow. I am the gentle showers of rain, I am the fields of ripening grain. I am in the morning hush, I am in the graceful rush Of beautiful birds in circling flight, I am the starshine of the night. I am in the flowers that bloom, I am in a quiet room. I am in the birds that sing, I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there. I did not die. -Mary Elizabeth Frye Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:10:53 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c57336 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c57336 Its been 5yrs. And it still feels like it was yesterday! I hate the feeling knowing your gone. As i sit on your gave sight..... i cry these tears feeling lonley and wish i can hug u tight one more time. I remember seeing u walk away for the last time at the air port keeping my eyes on you like if i knew it was the last time i would see you! little by little you were disapering into the crowed, as you turn around for one last time to wave goodbye! I bare with this pain knowing i will not see u again and wishing u were here! every morning, looking into the mirror i see a tattoo that resembles you! and i think of u and how youve made our family proud! WE MISS U AND LOVE U! ill see u soon mike! xoxoxo ...... ur sis jessica Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:04:17 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c55897 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/michael-a-estrella/#c55897 I remeber Mike taking off in my car, driving around his block laughing at me and locking me out of it...we had been hanging out at his house that whole night...just sitting on his yard talking about everything and nothing at all...God, I miss you and your laughter! I remeber the phone call I got the day you deployed, you left me a voice mail and said, "Remember, a toda madre o un desmadre..." I hear you say that in my head time and time again... Sat, 06 Aug 2011 07:59:29 -0700