Families Of 2 Different Kinds Of Warriors Join Forces To Honor Their Loved Ones
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - It's been 10 years since a failed rescue attempt and battle in Afghanistan. Littleton's Danny Dietz was one of 19 Special Forces soldiers and Navy SEALS who died. Now the Dietz family is teaming up with the family of another fallen fighter.
For six years motorcyclists have ridden in honor of Tessa Paprocki, a young woman who lost her battle with breast cancer in 2009.
"She was seven months pregnant when she found a lump," Tessa's mother Deana Paprocki said.
Deana Paprocki says Tessa's son Landon was only eight months old when he lost his mother.
On Sunday riders honored Tessa and Dietz.
"There are so many similarities that they have," Deana Paprocki said.
Both were born in 1980 and both lost their lives in June. They were two warriors in two different battles.
"She was such an amazing warrior, and it just made sense that our families come together," Dietz's sister Tiffany Bitz said.
Bitz said this year's ride benefits the Danny Dietz Memorial Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth.
"It's just amazing to be part of their special day and celebrate together," Bitz said.
The Dietz family says it's an honor to celebrate their loved ones with the Paprocki family. Even though a decade has passed since they lost their son and brother, they say it feels like just yesterday.
"It doesn't matter how the loss occurred, but we both share that same loss," Bitz said.
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