We lost one of our own (Colockumelk)

[Mark Brenckle]

This is a horrible loss for our community and our nation. All the auctions and fund raisers happening the last few days here has me speechless. My thoughts are with the family.
-Karl, please keep us informed if there will be a public memorial, I doubt I'd fit in my Service Dress Blues anymore, but I'd be honored to be able to pay my respect.

[Chase 1]

Posted to:

HuntfishNW
http://www.huntfishnw.com/index.php?topic=10074.msg98399#msg98399

Bloody Decks WA
http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/washington-hunting/491382-rip-colockumelk-hero-lost.html#post3101211

Piscatorial Pursuits
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/836558.html#Post836558

[Smokepole]

I'm so sorry to hear this.  My sympathy and prayers go out to the family.  RIP.

[Russ McDonald]

This is a horrible loss for our community and our nation. All the auctions and fund raisers happening the last few days here has me speechless. My thoughts are with the family.
-Karl, please keep us informed if there will be a public memorial, I doubt I'd fit in my Service Dress Blues anymore, but I'd be honored to be able to pay my respect.

I would also like to attend.  I was thinking if any of us went to show support from the forum if we wore something camo.

[Scott F]

RIP Brother.


Prayers sent for his family.

[bassquatch]

  RIP sir, my families prayers to your family. God speed.

[jackelope]

It's on Hunt Talk on onyourownadventures.  Newburg responded in thread.  Gonna reach out and see if Randy would do something to honor Aaron and his dedication to conservation in our state.

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?s=33963c92f8f8b932efe4f8b454b2e801&t=254655&page=1

I've been pm'ing with Randy and he is all over helping however he can. They are lining up some fundraiser activity on that site too. Randy gave me the green light to put links to our auctions on there as well.
 

[GoPlayOutside]

Thank You Colock and Family! 

Our prayers are with you.

Our annual Colockum Elk Camp will be sure to post up a new Memorial.  It will be posted around the Four Corners area.
True Hero!

[TangoU]

I always enjoyed reading his posts.  Very well thought out, well written, informative, no-bs type stuff for which every reader came away more intelligent than they were before.  Someone smarter than me once said something like "the measure of a man's life is not in the number of years on the planet but in the number of people he impacted during those years".   And by that measure, Colockumelk was a giant man.

Semper Fi brother.

-Allen

[Brushbuster]

Didn’t personally know Colockumelk but he died a hero. His country will be indebted to him for his extreme sacrifice. I hope that the tremendous outpouring of support will validate the high regard that everyone has for this fallen soldier.
   
To his family, you have my deepest sympathy.

[buck man]

Been working, just got the news. So sad. My prayers to his family and brother. His wit and humor will be missed. Thanks for your service Sir.

[Hunting Cowboy]

‘Colockumelk’ is coming home

When he saddled up to deploy to Afghanistan, former Selah resident Aaron Blanchard, known to his many friends on the Hunting-Washington forum as “Colockumelk,” posted a note on April 11 that noted, “Well it’s my turn once again to head over to the sand box and do the job that the tax payers pay me to do.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/colockumelk-is-coming-home?cid=db_articles

Wow! Nicely written Dave...... Reading it to my family, I had a hard time getting through that.....

[Dave Workman]

Dave, WOW!  Michael and I have been basically making calls and trying to keep up with all the media and internet stuff all day but we printed off your article and took it back to our room and read it.  It took us a while (we had to take breaks) but we got through it and I will tell you it was the best thing we have seen yet!  It took a hunter to tell that story and you did it well!  Thank you.  We will keep it and treasure it!

Honored and saddened at the same time to do it.

[12344mag]

Thank you for your service Capt. Aaron Blanchard, RIP Sir.

[farmin4u_98948]

Wish I had some great words of wisdom to share but all I can say is We ache for the family. So sorry for your loss.