Out of some of the worst tragedies can come good things.

Several members of the family of Nathan Barnes, an American Fork resident who was killed while serving the military in Iraq last summer, spoke about the sacrifices made by families for freedom.

His father, Kevin Barnes, spoke about "Triumphs." His brother Jay Barnes spoke on "Military Service," and his sister Lisa Blake addressed "Sacrifices."

Kevin Barnes said many good things had come to his family after the loss of their son.

"We are very grateful for the many good things that have happened since we received that news," he said. Although the family would prefer to have Nathan back, they would not change the experiences they have had.

"There isn't a single thing we would go back and change," he said. "We express our gratitude to this wonderful community to honor Nathan and all those who have served their country. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for every deed, action, thought and prayer that was offered in our behalf."

Some of the deeds he mentioned included neighbors placing flags on their street, monetary donations from the public, Scouts and Cub Scouts who lined the street with American flags the day of the funeral, and humanitarian service offered to the people of Iraq in Nathan's memory.

He said when neighbors first heard of Nathan's death, they placed American flags near their home and on their street.

"We received many comments about the beauty," he said. They received a letter from a Highland resident who heard about the flags and brought his grandchildren to see the sight. He told them that freedom was not free, but sometimes required the ultimate sacrifice.

"Many tears were shed; little hearts were touched," he wrote.

He thanked those who lined the street from the Alpine Tabernacle where the funeral was held to the American Fork Cemetery where Nathan was buried. He also mentioned he had heard from mothers of those Scouts, who said they appreciated the opportunity to teach their boys about sacrifice.

Kevin Barnes said there had been national attention given to a humanitarian project from the residents of American Fork and others to give aid to the people of Iraq in honor of Nathan.

"We are grateful for the good it did as it blessed those people and helped them understand the love that people have for freedom," he said. RoseAnn Gunther, who coordinated the first humanitarian effort, is planning another, he said.

"There has been much good that has come from Nathan's sacrifice," Kevin Barnes said.

Jay Barnes referred to the Continental Army in America's early years, honoring those for their patriotism.

"This is the service that Nathan exemplified," he said. "It was not about the paycheck or the adventure. His service was always personal." Jay Barnes said Nathan's letters spoke of lives that were touched and the freedom that was protected.

"I have spent much time pondering and thinking about the meaning of the loss of my brother and what place that will hold for me and my family in the future," he said. "I will be forever grateful for Nathan's sacrifice. It is a sacrifice that I cannot repay, a service that I cannot fulfill. I hope that we will keep in mind the great love and remember to be thankful for these things."

Blake spoke of Nathan Barnes's sacrifices.

"He went to war so that others would not have to," she said. "He had big plans, not just dreams, for the future. He put them all on the line for all of us. Sacrifice for freedom is nothing new. It is what created and continues to sustain America."

"I made a sacrifice, though it was not my choice," she said. "It is now my responsibility to have Nathan's sacrifice be part of my family. It is not only a sacrifice but also an honor."

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented a flag and medals earned by a soldier killed in Afghanistan to his stepmother, Sonia Acevedo. Kelvin E. Feliciano Gutierrez was killed in 2003, but she had never received the remembrances.