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“WE TRANSCEND TEAM AND BECOME FAMILY…
THIS IS OUR BROTHERHOOD. THIS IS OUR SISTERHOOD.
THIS IS OUR PASSION. THIS IS OUR LEGACY.”
Eddie Ledesma #17
"Hey Beautiful"
Eddie Ledesma, WSA 92 Boys
December 22nd, 1991 - November 3rd, 2008
Eduardo Barron Ledesma, “Eddie”, was born on December 22nd, 1991 in Hollister, California to father Jose Eduardo Ledesma and mother Juana Barron Ledesma. He passed away on November 3rd, 2008, at St Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from injuries sustained in an assault that occurred after a church league soccer game.
Eddie was in his third year with the WSA 92 boy’s team. Eddie was loved by all, and was considered not only a teammate, but a friend, and a brother, to the young men of WSA 92, who consider themselves family.
Eddie was a gifted young man, and was certainly gifted athletically. Eddie was usually among the fastest players on the field when he played for WSA 92. He also was popular with his teammates because he had a magical gift of being the often elusive goal scorer. Eddie’s real magic, his real gift, was off the field though, with the gentle spirit, calm, and peace that he embodied. Maybe it was this gift that manifested itself in his beautiful smile that reminded those who knew Eddie of his special grace. It may be that this is why when Eddie would show up for training or games with WSA 92 that his teammates would greet him with “Hey Beautiful”.
Eddie’s father calls Eddie his “inspiration”. Eddie embraced all souls and this is probably the reason Eddie had so many who called him “friend”. This was evident at the St. Francis Xavier church when, on the day of Eddie’s memorial service, the church overflowed with those who loved Eddie, and those who Eddie had loved. Eddie inspired love, he embodied grace, and he lived in peace.
On the week of Eddie’s passing, WSA teams, and many of their opponents, began their matches with 10 men on the field, and inserted their 11th man, in remembrance of Eddie, in the 17th minute, in honor of Eddie’s #17. On Saturday, November 8th, the WSA 92 boys played St. Thomas Soccer Club in a game rightfully called “Eddie’s Game”. The match fittingly was filled with a lot of goals, nine on the evening – Eddie would have been proud.
The players remembered Eddie before the game in a pre-game ceremony, and when Johnny Chavez found the back of the net in the first half he made his goal scoring celebration run to the corner of the field where “17” was painted in, as his teammates joined him, to remember Eddie. WSA will make “Eddie’s Game” an annual tradition.
In 2009, All WSA teams will wear armbands on their left sleeve, closest to the heart, for it is in our heart where Eddie’s legacy and life live on. Eddie’s living example of grace reminds us of the need to forgive, the grace he embodied reminds us that it is here that we find the power of forgiveness, the love, peace, and calm that Eddie lived, the lesson he left, and the legacy that lives eternal in all he loved, and all who love him.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF EDDIE LEDESMA
“HEY BEAUTIFUL”
CLICK HERE FOR EDDIE’S TRIBUTE
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