Crystal was 22 years old and had been in the Army two years and eight and a half months. She had been accepted to the Art Institute of Atlanta for Culunary to become a chef and was hoping to get out of the Army some time this summer or at least by September.Crystal and her father and mother had just had one of the greatest weekends with her.They met in Nashville and stayed the weekend together at a State Trap Shoot. She had just join the ATA and started shooting registered targets last fall when she came home from Iraq. She didn't get to shoot often, but loved it when she could. She had just hit her 'first' 25 straight targets on the last field of a 200 target event. A wonderful time we had and will cherish it always. Shortly there after Diane and Michael received a call telling them of the accident Crystal had been in.
Crystal's mother, Diane, says,
"We were given the privilege of being ask to attend a special memorial service at Ft Campbell on Thursday. I was able to attend it with a few members of my family. It was one of the greatest shows of how much the Army is a family built around all of its soldiers. This group of soldiers in E company, 1st Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade helped me so much see the military side of Crystal and how well she was thought of from her Battalion leader all the way down to the soldiers she worked with everyday. Everyone was able to relate some kind of story to me about how Crystal had touched their life. She was greatly loved, more than she ever even knew. The base chapel was filled to overflowing and I was able to shake the hand of almost everyone that attended the ceremony.
Friday night at the viewing, I was amazed at the out pouring of support from everyone. Crystal was escorted from the funeral home to the church on Saturday by what looked like over 50 Patriot Guard Riders on motor cycles. Crystal would have loved seeing that. Even when we arrived at the church an hour before the service, the parking lot was getting very crowed, it overflowed as well as the church. I am sorry some had to stand up during the service as we attend a very small country church. Mike and I, as well as Kellie (her sister) would like to thank each one who attend, it means the world to us that you cared so much.
Since we now know how loved she was by the soliders at Fort Campbell, we will continue to stay in touch with them as a link to Crystal. We know that she will be looking over them when they are deployed next, to help keep them safe."THE SILVER STAR FAMILIES OF AMERICA
REMEMBERS
Spc Crystal Diane Bolling
August 12, 1984~June 11, 2007
Heaven Was Needing a Hero
I came by today to see you
I had to let you know
If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time
I'd have held you and never let go
It's kept me awake nights, wondering
Lie in the dark, just asking why
I've always been told
You won't be called home
Until it's your time
I guess heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe and follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
I remember the last time I saw you
You held your head up proud
I laughed inside
When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd
You're such a part of who I am
Now that part will just be void
No matter how much I need you now
Heaven needed you more
Cause heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe and follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is heaven was needing a hero
Like you
Heaven was needing a hero and that's you
Please sign Crystal's Memory Book
Crystal's Favorite things
Crystal loved John Deere tractors and her MySpace was also John Deere http://www.myspace.com/cdtractor
Crystal loved being outdoors and running. She ran a 5 K race in Marietta, GA the 26th of May (just before Memorial Day) and won 1st place for her age group.
When she was in high school she played soccer on a recrecational league and took cooking classes the 4 years of high school. The first competition she and her class at McEachern High School, they won 2nd place out of 6 other teams.
She was a country music lover and loved cows and red-headed red-necks, especially Dale E Jr.
(#8 was also her soccer number).
Crystal's favorite Scripture
Our Father, which art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
in earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, forever. . . Amen
The Silver Star Families of America wishes to acknowledge and honor the sacrifices of the Bolling family and their daughter, Spc Crystal Diane Bolling. Along with the memorial page, SSFOA has set up the Crystal Bolling Memorial Fund which will purchase Silver Star Banners to be presented to the wounded in her honor and name. Go to contribute to Crystal's memorial fund http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/CrystalBollingFund.html
Song: There You'll Be
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