Kelly’s son, Private First Class Elden Arcand, top left, joined the Army so he could go to Iraq and support the troops that were already there.  PFC Arcand drove fuel tanks called 915s, and his assignment was to deliver fuel to bases around Iraq.  Kelly says Elden talked about how much sand there was everywhere, and he talked about the incredible heat.  She says, “Being from Minnesota, he did not like it hot!  He much preferred cold weather.” 
 
Kelly continues, “He said that when they were driving on the convoy, the Iraqis would stand by the road and wave at them, and they were happy the U.S. was there.  He told my husband that you don’t know what freedom is; when was the last time you were talking to anybody and had to look around and see if anyone was looking?  The Iraqis had to be careful about talking to Americans because there were those who would do harm to them for interacting with Americans in any way.” 
 
Elden was 22 years old when he died on August 21, 2005.  He was killed during a regular convoy mission to deliver fuel.  He was the passenger and the driver, Sgt. Brian Morris, was also killed.  They swerved to miss a pothole and the gas shifted in the truck and caused the truck to roll.  Elden was thrown from the truck and it landed on him, killing him instantly. 
 
“What made me proudest of Elden was why he joined the Army; he wanted to make a difference in this world and he wanted people to be proud of him.  We were,” says Kelly. “In the New Testament, Jesus said, ‘Greater love has no one than this – that he lay down his life for a friend.’ Elden was there fighting for the Iraqis’ freedom.  He laid down his life for them and I’m very proud of that.