Army Sgt. Abeyta was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock, Illinois. He died in Jalabad, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in Kot, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Christopher graduated in 2003 from Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois, where he excelled in track, football and wrestling. Teachers remember him as being an excellent student as well as being polite and respectful of others.

While still in high school, he enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in May 2002 because of September 11. At the age of 18, Christopher was in Iraq and was on his second deployment in Afghanistan when he was killed. He had been providing security for the coalition sent to rebuild the war-ravaged nation's infrastructure – its damaged roads, hospitals and schools.

Between tours, he graduated in 2007 from Harold Washington College in Chicago with an associate degree but Christopher decided that he had found his niche in the military - he wanted to stay in and become a paramedic.

Christopher had many sides to his personality – he liked to read and listen to music but then there was that goofy sense of humor he had. He loved helping people and felt what he was doing was important.

Now his bedroom in his parents' house is quiet and untouched since he left in August. A military duffel bag sits on the bed, White Sox hats adorn a wall, alongside framed tickets for the band "Offspring" and a print of Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night."

Before leaving for his latest assignment, he rushed home for something he left behind – no one was home. He left flowers for his mother and a message on a paper towel saying, "I love you guys more than you'll ever know. Your son, Chris." His parents still have the note taped to the refrigerator, surrounded by pictures of their only child.

(Bio by: Brenda Normandin)