Spc. Kevin Cuming, of North White Plains, enlisted in the Army to continue a family tradition of military service.

He was killed in combat in Iraq in 2004. His mother, Yolanda Cuming, says she can share a part of her son through his letters.

She received a letter from him for Mother's Day in 2004 - the year he was killed.

In it, he said he wished he was there to make her breakfast in bed and spend the day with her.

The topics in the letter ranged from firing his MI GA-2 to missing things like his TV, computer, music, car, Burger King, junk food, beer and good-looking girls.

What he said he missed most was family and friends, having been away for such a long time.

His letter was dated May 8, 2004. He died on Aug. 21, 2004, after he was hit in the heart by a rocket-propelled grenade.

Yolanda Cuming says the next day her doorbell rang, and soldiers told her that Kevin had been killed.

She says her heart was broken, but she still tries to remember the wonderful things about him, including his love of cooking, the beach and going to concerts.

"He was a very special son, brother, friend to everybody. He was a peacemaker. And being so special and so kind with a beautiful smile," she says. "I hope people do not forget about him. That's one of my fears sometimes. That people are going to forget, who was Kevin. But I hope it's in everybody's mind, not this holiday, but always."