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Jerry Gladstone & Christopher Morales Took More Than My Money

Seth Garceau (right) and friends going to a Bob Dylan concert
with Seth's father, Rick Garceau, in Des Moines, Iowa in 2004.

By Rick Garceau

When I was growing up, I loved listening to music. My passion was so strong that I knew it was something I wanted to share with my children, Seth and Tess.

Although the popular music of the time had changed between our generations, I still wanted the kids to appreciate classic rock in the way that I did. I started by introducing songs from bands such as The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. In the morning, while I prepared breakfast I would blast music from these bands that the kids thought was “outdated.” While they would eat, I would sing along with the music and they would laugh and make jokes about how terrible my singing was. Even though the jokes were at my expense, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my mornings. Seth and Tess eventually learned the words better than I did, and that’s when I knew that music was something that would keep us together.

As the kids got older and started spending more time with their friends, our family still had the music to keep us in touch. My son and his friends were all Bob Dylan fans, just as I was, so it was a great surprise that they kept me in mind when they had an extra ticket to one of his shows. I was touched that out of all the people they could have asked to go, they chose me. The only problem was that I was building a house on Madeline Island in Lake Superior, and the concert was 11 hours away in Des Moines. However, I wasn’t going to let the distance keep from missing out on this great opportunity to enjoy Dylan with Seth and his friends.

I left early in the morning and drove nine hours to my hometown to pick up the boys and proceed to the concert. After three more hours of driving, we were finally there. The concert was phenomenal, as we all expected. But what I will remember most are the smiles of excitement on the boys’ faces during the entire show. At that moment, I forgot about the long drive ahead of me and just let the good times roll.

Shortly after the concert, Seth, a member of the Iowa National Guard, volunteered to join his battalion to fight the war in Iraq. After a mere 30 days of being there, Seth was killed by a roadside bomb that struck his Humvee. During the years to follow, I experienced many different emotions, but a large part of what I was feeling was emptiness. When you lose a child you not only lose them, but you also lose a huge part of yourself.

It took me awhile to adjust, but I found that through listening to music, I could start getting that part of myself back. Music has a way of conveying emotions that you sometimes can’t explain on your own. Music gave me a voice of my own and by listening to music that Seth and I both loved, I found a way to keep him alive in my heart. I eventually got back on my feet and started feeling more and more like myself. But something was still missing.

Although Seth was always with me in my heart, I wanted a way to celebrate his life and our love for music in a way that everyone could see. I devoted the next few years to remodeling my living room into a room built completely for Seth. In this room, I started by displaying military emblems, such as his purple heart and the items that he was carrying at the time of his death.

I didn’t want the entire room to be about Seth’s military endeavors, though, so I thought carefully about other ways I could memorialize his life. That's when I found Jerry Gladstone's autograph company, American Royal Arts. I ended up purchasing an autographed Grateful Dead guitar and an autographed Dylan and the Dead poster to remind me of the cherished hours Seth and I used to spend together, talking, laughing, and listening to these famous artists.

These tokens of the bond with my son meant the world to me. So I was devastated to discover that the autographs on the guitar and the poster, like all the classic rock memorabilia sold to me by Jerry Gladstone, were forgeries authenticated by Christopher Morales.

Now, the memorabilia that once brought back pleasant memories of my son elicits feelings of heartbreak and disgust.

By betraying me and thousands of others like me, these criminals have not only stolen our money. They have robbed us of much more than that.

Tags: Jerry gladstone, american royal arts, christopher Morales, dylan, fake, forgeries, grateful dead

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Permalink Reply by Rick Garceau on January 17, 2012 at 6:53pm

A year ago last October, my daughter called and said that Dylan was performing at the college she attends and she got us a couple tickets. Shortly after the performance started, I heard somebody yell my name. I looked back and there were Seth's buddies giving me the thumbs up. They still come by from time to time with some new music. One of them is now in a band!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on January 18, 2012 at 6:49am

Rick,

That is so cool! What kind of music do they play?

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Permalink Reply by Barry S on January 18, 2012 at 2:56pm

Very cool Rick!

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Permalink Reply by Rick Garceau on January 18, 2012 at 11:25am

I'm away from my computer most of the day and my phone won't let me reply to messages. I will get back to all of you as soon as I can. Thank you!

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Permalink Reply by 029r4yc06b4rr on January 18, 2012 at 1:17pm

Reading this makes me think of good ol Tom Tresh aka Christopher Williams. He has probably single handedly put a huge dent in coaches corner and the many baseball fakes they sell. Thousands and thousands of people viewed his videos and it was because of them that people began to realize that they shouldnt shop their. Its obvious not enough people saw them, but it did help. This site also helps but i think it would be a great idea if someone were to start something similar to Tom Tresh.

Their could be a youtube account that puts out warnings daily, heck hourly with all the garbage out their, that address the signing, coaches corner, Gladstone, Koschal, ARA, and numerous others. Maybe like each week paying attention to a differnt buisness of concern. I bet if we did that and spent say a week on Gladstone and what he did alone and what he continues to do, publish steves letter etc, that his buisness would be hit even harder. He might try and sue but he wouldnt have a case.

ANL should also be explained to the masses as to what truly goes on their and what its purpose truly is. I mean it would really open some eyes out their and get the word out that the general public doesnt know about. The guys who know autographs know who to avoid and why, and who the good guys are generally, but the common collector may not.

Does this sound like a good idea to anyone else? Would this be possible for us to start? It may be to risky as far as lawsuits but it would sure get the message out and send a clear message to bad companies.

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 19, 2012 at 5:28am

I think this is a great idea Chris

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Permalink Reply by CJCollector on January 18, 2012 at 3:02pm

Rick, I would also like to convey my condolences to you. The saddest part about Rick's story is, of course, the loss of his son Seth, who heroically volunteered to go to Iraq.

As for Morales and the crap he has "authenticated" over the past decade, it is sickening. I will go to my grave writing about Morales until something is done. And yes, in the future, there will be more videos.

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Permalink Reply by CEE GEE on January 19, 2012 at 5:27am

Looking forward to it Chris...please send me a link as soon as its up

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Permalink Reply by DB on January 19, 2012 at 2:04am

And let's not forget who Seth was as aside from Rick's only son, and a friend to others. Putting the other face to the story is important. Some gave there all.

The Iowa National Guard regrets to announce the death of Spc. Seth Garceau (pronounced "gar SOH"), 22, of Oelwein. Garceau was very seriously injured when the up-armored Humvee in which he was traveling was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) between Karbala and Ar Ramadi, Iraq, at approximately 10:50 a.m., Iraq time, on Feb. 27 2005.

Garceau was evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany after the attack, and was later placed on life support. His mother, father and sister were flown to Germany, and were at his bedside at the time of his death; he was removed from life support per his living will at approximately 8:30 a.m., March 4. He was assigned to the Iowa Army National Guard's Company A, 224th Engineer Battalion, 155th Brigade Combat Team.

Garceau graduated from Oelwein High School in 2001. He enlisted in the 834th Engineer Company, Iowa Army National Guard, Davenport, in March 2000, and was qualified as a Heavy Construction Equipment Operator and Combat Engineer.

Garceau mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 224th Engineer Battalion in October 2004. He will be posthumously promoted to Sergeant in a private ceremony with his family and senior Iowa National Guard members.