(Photo by Kris Todd) Dayton Peters, 9, basks in a collection of 945 trading cards he recently received from the mother of Daryl Davis, a fallen hero. [Order this photo]

Dayton Peters, a third grade student at Fairview Elementary in Spencer, has spent hours gazing at the 945 football, baseball and a few Star Trek trading cards he recently received from the mother of a fallen hero. Dallas Cowboys cornerback Issiac Holt, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Tim Irwin and punter Harry Newsome, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell rank among his favorites.

When the Peterson youth and several of his family members chose to celebrate his ninth birthday by having dinner at the Sports Page Bar & Grill in Spencer, the birthday boy showcased a collector's book he'd received as a gift from his parents, Ryan and Kristen Peters. It was filled with sporting cards he'd collected over the years.

Dana Davis of Spencer, who waitresses at the establishment, stopped by the table her friends were occupying. When she saw Peters proudly displaying his collection, she instantly knew what she had to do. Davis delivered a large box filled with trading cards that had belonged to her late son, Daryl Davis, to the 9-year-old a few days later. She told Peters' grandparents, Ron and Julie Peters of Spencer, "When you guys came into the Sports Page that night to celebrate his birthday and I saw him, it was just instant: He's getting those cards. There was no second thought."

Peters had always admired the 20-year-old who was killed Nov. 29, 2004 during a fuel mission trek into Baghdad, Iraq. The massive sporting card collection was a new attribute he readily added to the long list of "good stuff" he knew about Davis.

Worlds of Peters' fallen hero, uncle intertwine

Known as "Double D" and "Daryl Dogg" by friends and family members, Davis signed up with the National Guard as a 17-year-old junior at Spencer High School. He followed the lead set by Spec. Tyler Peters, Dayton's uncle and a fellow SHS alumnus who enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard's 2168th Transportation Company based in Sheldon. The two met when Davis moved to Spencer as a high school freshman.

(Photo submitted) Dayton and Haylie Peters quietly observed the gravesite of Spec. Daryl Davis on Memorial Day 2006. [Order this photo]

Peters and Davis were like brothers. Their bond only grew through their devotion to country.

While Peters signed on for an eight-year military term in June 2001, he volunteered to serve with the Iowa Army National Guard's 1133rd Transportation Company based in Mason City and was deployed to the Middle East in April 2003.

During the same time, Spec. Davis served with the Sheldon unit through December 2003. When he moved to Florida in January 2004 to attend classes at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, he transferred to the Florida Army National Guard 144th Transportation Company. Davis, who was serving as the unit's gunner, died in a non-hostile accident when the Humvee he was riding in between military camps was involved in a traffic accident in Iraq.

Peters was among those who served as a pallbearer for Davis.

Remembrances rekindled courtesy special gift

The black three-ring binder which securely holds Peters' new cards stays stationed in the living room of his home.

Five years old when his friend died, Peters still has what his family calls "Daryl days."

"Every once in a while he'll just be real quiet. We'll ask him what's wrong and he'll tell us, 'Just having a bad Daryl day. Just thinking about Daryl,'" his mother said. "We sit and talk about it and remember all the good stuff about him."

The "good stuff" includes the time when Davis allowed Peters to ride a go-cart in Arnolds Park when he didn't quite meet the height requirement, all the times Davis and his uncle worked on cars or "messed around" that he was allowed to tag along, and the time when Davis let Peters ride on his 1999 Honda 900 RR motorcycle.

Since his hero's passing, Peters has placed a Christmas card at his grave. Along with his grandfather, he's also replaced faded and torn flags at the gravesites of soldiers killed in action.

"Every once in a while we just drive out there, get out and have a moment," Kristen Peters said.

"I just go out and look at his grave and remember all the good things that happened when he was here in Spencer," added Dayton.

Both Dayton and Ron Peters spoke about Davis during a March 19 candlelight vigil held in the Royal Wedding Chapel. The vigil marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War.

While the 9-year-old said he wants to ride dirt bikes after he graduates from high school, Peters also stated he's contemplating joining the military and becoming a soldier like Davis and his uncle, who will turn 25 next month.

"When they go out, they are doing a dangerous job. But, they are just trying to help other people -- and they're doing it for a reason," he said.

The third grader said of Davis, "He's a hero because he was helping other people."