Eric Burri, 21, was killed in 2005 in Iraq when a bomb exploded near his military vehicle.

Eric was John and Joanne Burri’s third child, after losing their first-born at birth and adopting a second child, Andrew.

From sports, to rollercoasters and camping, to being an exchange student in Uruguay in high school, Eric continued to seek adventure when he came home from school one day and told his dad he had sworn in to join the U.S. Army.

“He was so proud,” John Burri said. “As parents, you get a little nervous about some of these decisions, but you’ve got to let these kids grow up and be who they want to be.”

After graduating from Kelloggsville High School, Eric went to serve in Kuwait where he was a parachute rigger and then, deciding to continue his military service, he went on to Baghdad, Iraq where he was a lead gunner on a supply caravan. He was killed when a bomb went off near his vehicle on June 7, 2005.