MEMORIES OF JERRY
SELF
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To Jerry's Family:
Hi!! I know that
you don't know me, but I just wanted to let you know, that I am here for
you and I will remember to keep you in my prayers. Good luck in the future
and God Bless You!!!!!!!!!!!!
I stumbled across your
website because my son plays for Cooper and I was looking for information
on Arlington Lamar football. My son Shane Engel was one of Jerry's
"pissheads" in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M. The first time
that we met Jerry, they were both in Squadron 13. The event was an
outfit barbeque. While most of the "fish" stood around away from
the upper classmen, Jerry was mingling and getting to know
everyone. I
was most impressed with how comfortable he was around people, and how quick
he was to smile and make others feel comfortable. Shane told me then, that
Jerry was the best fish they had in the unit and that he really liked him.
When squadron 13 was
disbanded, Jerry and Shane went to Squadron 17 together. My wife
and I had the opportunity to sit across from Jerry at the Squadron luncheon
on that parents weekend. I do not believe that Jerry has ever met
a stranger. He really had a charming personality. He was a
young man that was going places, and was a real leader.
When Shane called
that morning and told us that Jerry had died, we cried. Still today,
we do not fully understand why something so tragic had to happen to such
a fine young man. Someday, my first question to the Lord will be,
Why? Even today, as I write this I hurt for Jerry's parents and know
the emptyness that they must still feel, especially, having just passed
the anniversary of the accident. You are still in our prayers.
You are
to be commended for
the fine young man that you raised in this life, and for the witness and
testimony that he still is even in death. May God bless you in these
days ahead.
Dear Mr.Self,
I just wanted
to tell you that I read the article in the Dallas paper on November 19.
That article really touched me. I noticed that your sons birthday
is only 3 days away. No I am not a student at A&M, but I hope
to be one day. I attend a junior college in Tomball, TX. But the reason
I am writing is to tell you that I will pray for you in hopes that things
will get better for you. And to also let you know that there are people
out
there who do think
about those who have lost family members. At least I do.
I hope you have a
great holiday this year. I know it will be hard, but like I said I will
be praying for you.
The Self Family,
I'm sorry I never
got a chance to meet Jerry even though we walked through the same halls
of Lamar High School and Texas A&M University. Never have I seen
a person have such a strong impact on such a big community and that says
alot about Jerry and his parents who raised him. But the thing that matters
the most is that Jerry lost his life doing something that he loved, and
took a lot of pride in doing, and there is no better way to leave here
when you have investing your time into something that you love. My heart
goes out to the Self
family, stay strong, he is in gods hands now. Your in my prayers.
WE ALL MISS YOU.....AND
WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU....
Self Family,
I played football
with your son and I want y'all to know that you had trained him up well.
He showed people the love of Christ and he always put others before himself.
I am thankful for the times that I had with your son. Jerry was a
blessing in my life.
Jerry was an unforgettable
person and friend. His dad Mike and my dad are really good friends and
Jerry use to always come over for those "late night pool parties". Jerry
never excluded anyone and was always there to help another out. I remember
one time at one of the parties, we needed to pump the volleyballs up with
air, and Jerry volunteered, and of course my parents convinced me into
riding with him to the store, (knowing i had a crush on him) we rode to
the store, with the country music blaring of course. Jerry sang at the
top of his lungs the whole way there. Ever since that night I didn't just
look at Jerry as a crush, I saw him as a wonderful person, inside and out.
Its unfortunate that he is gone now, but at least he's in an awesome place
where he can sing those country songs at the top of his lungs and watch
over all of his companions, family and friends.
I knew Jerry pretty well.
He was kind and thoughtful, I didn't have very many friends so I really
apreciated that fact. I moved away from Arlington in 1998, I cant believe
I am hearing about this 3 years later. I have had many of my friends friends
talk about that bonfire tradition. I wish people didn't have to get hurt
or killed because of things that might have been avoided. I have lost a
few friends now; it makes you wonder whats the point, why them and not
me. I guess no one knows but I do believe in heaven, especially for good
people like Jerry.
Jerry-
My family is going
to take a vacation to Schlitterbaun this year. When they told me,
the first thing I thought of was you. I remember when I was in seventh
grade, and we went on the trip to Schlitterbaun. It was my first
real youth group activity, and I was so excited. You were a sophomore
or a junior then, and you were always in trouble. Jeremy was so mad
when he caught you guys in the girls room. I remember how funny it
was when you made fun of the guy that ran the "Roach Motel" (Habib) and
his "cleaning lady." I remember how mad "Habib" was when he caught
you and Jono throwing chairs into the pool. But most of all, I remember
when these guys from a different church were making fun of us, and I kept
yelling for you to come outside, and one of the guys said, "Come on, let's
get out of here. She's yelling for her brother!" Then this
six-foot tall mass of football player comes outside and is like, "What?
We're watching the Real World, okay." I was so proud at that moment,
because someone had thought that you were my older brother. I always
wanted you to be my brother, and I always thought of you that way.
I know it's been a while since the Bonfire, but I still think of you every
day. I hope that when I die, you are the first person I see.
And take good care of Jason. We miss both of you so much. I'll
see you, 34.
I was looking around
at the bonfire memorial webpage and I decided to look at Jerry's page.
Although I did not know him, I am an Aggie now and I'm also from Arlington.
I was still a senior at Martin when I heard of the tragedy, and I remember
hearing everyone talk about their fallen friends as if everyone knew each
other, that's when I knew I had to go there. It looks like everyone
who knew him was blessed. I pray that time has healed your pain and
that you know that you have the whole Aggie Family behind you! I just wanted
to let the family know that I am still praying for you and I always will!
God Bless You!!
Jerry,
I am sorry it has
taken me almost two years to write this. I know we have had our ups
and downs but all I want to say is that I love you. I know it probably
wouldn't happen if the bonfire accident happened just because of who we
were. Now that l look back I wish I could have told you to your face.
I can't express how
proud I am of you for all that you did for me, mom, dad, memaw, the rest
of the family, and everyone else. I can't tell you how happy I was knowing
I was going to come down to A&M to visit you and for the bonfire, but
when Dad woke me up crying saying "the stack had fell" and he couldn't
get a hold of you my heart dropped. And
then when I saw Jeff
in the state that he was, I couldn't hold it in. I couldn't believe
that it could happen.
In basic training
I looked foward to talking to you and telling you all the things that I
was doing. Jeff told me later that you were so proud of me and that
you were in the same boat about looking foward to my calls.
I talk about you all
the time. You wouldn't believe how much I have become an A&M
fan now. You have opened my eyes to life. I pray that one day
we will be together and I will be able to tell you all of this face to
face.
Instead of writing
about all the memories I have (good and bad) I want to let you and everybody
else hear what I should have told you years ago. I thank you for
who you are and what you have done. To all those that have posted prayers,
thoughts, and memories, I want to thank you and let you know that the Self
family appreciates every letter.
To all those that
knew Jerry personally, I want to thank you for putting up with him and
making him who he was.
God bless all.
Gig 'em.
I remember the summer
of 1999, I was 11 years old and was looking forward to going to church
camp. I arrived there to a tall, handsome, young man. That man was Jerry.
I remember all the little girls always looking up to him and wanting to
always be around him, we all thought he was so cute. Jerry ended up being
my small groups leader and we met every day in a little room, his group
of boys and my cabin of girls, we always sat around and laughed and played
games. I still remember his smile as if I saw him just a few minutes ago.
I remember him up on the stage for the talent show singing "she's a brick
house..." and dancing around, having the time of his life with a few of
the other camp counselors. Every time I hear that song I still am reminded
of him. I also still have a letter that he had wrote to him before I left
to go back home. It reads: "Thanks for being a great camper. You're a cute
girl and I hope to hear from y'all again. Remember the yellow group. Jerry."
Only if I could of gone back to camp the next summer, jumping out of the
car looking up to that same man that I spent that week of summer with.
He was the best camp counselor I've ever had and will have and he was truly
an amazing guy. It's such a great privilege to know such a great person.
He is missed and loved by many. I'll see you in heaven, Jerry.
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