Ben & Shae Cecka's family in Gilbert, AZ

Long story short, I was reading news articles and blogs about the death of my good friend Conrad. It was really strange to see people talk about him that didn’t know him, and this one guy said the following and it kinda set me off:
“Conrado Salinas sounds like a hispanic name……TJ is a dangerous and seedy town…..wouldn’t gothere if you paid me.”

I don’t know. Just irritated me. I replied with:
“Conrado Salinas Jr. was the warmest, kindest person you would have ever met, had you known him. He was an American, of African decent if his nationality really matters. He had a beautiful mother that many miles a day, went to races and had her picture in the papers for her famous costumes in the race- I think she was superwoman one time. He is also survived by two younger sisters Gina and Mimi, cat Holly, and his puppy dog Max (named after Max Cavalera). He played guitar in the band Detest that he started with his best friend and vocalist, Chris, who he lived next door to, and knew since he was two. Billy looked like animal from the muppets when he played the drums, and Mark and Raul later joined the band. I hear Raul was in Tj with him that night. He is hispanic, if it is important to you. I never met his father, and do not know if he even knows about his tragic death. (A shame such knowledge is wasted on people who didn’t know him and don’t care.) Conrad joined the army, he told me, because he wanted to do something with his life and get away from partying with his friends. He wanted to go to college and thought the army was a good path to where he wanted to be in life. He was a mechanic for the US Military. He is well loved and much missed and I know this thread was forgotten about long ago, but I haven’t forgotten him and I think he deserves the respect of being talked about for who he was, and not only about the last moment of his life, or for what everyone thinks he was. My respect goes to anyone that had the decency to pay thoughts and prayers to his family. Thank you for reading.”
and a picture to follow-