"TUG'S TESTIMONY
In memory of Sam

"Four boys living in a suburb of Baltimore.  I was just about 9, Joe was 8, Sam was 6 and Jeff was 5.   We played everything together and everything we did even became a game.  Even when we went across the street, just getting back across was an organized effort to safely race back.  We rewarded ourselves with a "gold, silver, or a bronze" imaginary medal.

Meanwhile, my dad, Tim Hulett was playing for the Baltimore Orioles at the time, in Chicago against the White Sox.  Our incredible mother was cooking dinner for us, continuing her superhuman efforts in taking care of four active boys most of the time on her own during baseball season.  Life was the best.

That was until Sam decided that THAT was the day that he was going to win "the gold", getting back across the street.

My parents loved the Lord and taught us how to know Him as our Savior.  But they did more than that, THEY LIVED IT.  We are close as a family and close to God.  With four brothers we had "built in" best friends and teammates at all times.

And like any good teammate, we had non-stop competition . . . even when just doing something simple like crossing the street.

So Sam looked one way, but not the other.  He chose to get a jump on us in racing across the street, instead of waiting for me to say when to "go".

While I was checking to make sure Jeff was ready before we crossed, I heard Joe say "No Wait". . . but Sam didn't, and the next instant changed our family forever.

Sam was instantly hit by the car that seemed to come out of nowhere.  My memories don't want to remember much more, but the fact remains that Sam slipped almost immediately into eternity that evening.

And mom had to make the call to dad that same night.

Alot of things happened that night as dad immediately got a flight home to be with us.  But nothing is more significant than the words he spoke when he got us together as a family and said . . .

"A situation like this can tear families apart or bring them closer together.   And our family will not let this tear us apart".  And then we held hands and Dad prayed for God's peace for all of us and that the loss of my brother Sam would bring us all closer together." "