"Happy Birthday, I Love You," was the last text Antionette received from her husband before he took his own life while on deployment with the army reserve in Qatar.

Antionette Martinez de Stapley grew up in Clinton, Utah.  She met her husband, Travis, while still in junior high school.  After "going together", Tracy broke it off with Antionette.

The two rekindled after they had graduated at a homecoming football game. They were engaged two weeks later and tied the knot two years after that.  

Tracy joined the military when he was 18.  Tracy was red, white, and blue, patriotic through and through.  He only wanted to serve.

Tracy's first deployment was to Kuwait with an army reserve unit. Antionette was left at home with two small children, one an infant.

Tracy's 2nd deployment came 10 years later, again as army reserve.  He went to Qatar, specializing in medical logistics.

Four months into his deployment, Antionette heard the knock on the door.  On July 3, 2013, two uniformed men gave her the news that Tracy had taken his life.  There was no note, nothing to let Antionette know her husband's anguish.

In 2015, Antionette started a non profit organization, Operation Hero.  Every Memorial Day weekend Operation Hero puts out combat boots to represent each fallen Utah military member since September 11, 2001.  The fallen include:  battle, natural causes, illness, and suicide.  Antionette's organization helps Utah military families.

Through tragedy, Antionette has learned to treasure every moment with her family.  She will continue to put the boots out every Memorial Day Weekend to keep fallen warriors in our hearts and minds.

Instagram at operation.hero

Facebook at Operation Hero Tracy