« Another hero comes home | Main | The real "die-in" isn't on a peaceful Ohio campus »
April 08, 2005
Anniversaries
"Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived, and how he died that distinguishes one man from another." -Ernest Hemingway
As families, we celebrate birthdays by looking back at the past year and forward to to the next one. From the time that a child is born, his or her life is filled with promise but some lives are shorter than others. For the families of fallen heroes, there is another anniversary each year, one that is both a source of terrible pain and terrific pride. They celebrate the all-too-short life of their hero while wondering what might have been if they had returned from the fight. And beyond everything, they want and need to know that the world will never forget the sacrifice made.
When Sgt. Allan Walker was killed last year on April 6 in the Al anbar province of Iraq, his best friend SSgt Scott McLaughlin, wrote a beautiful tribute that gave the rest of us a glimpse of the man and Marine Sgt Walker was. Two days ago, SSgt McLaughlin left a comment that it was the one year anniversary of Sgt. Allan Walker's death in Iraq. He will never forget and through his words, we will never forget Sgt. Walker either.
In the same accident that took Sgt. Walker, HM3 Fernando Mendez-Aceves fell while treating Sgt. Walker's wounds. His bravery was noted in a subsequent speech by LtGeneral Gregson and will never be forgotten by his family,the men he served with or those who read tributes to his bravery.
Cpl Nicholas J. Dieruf, 1st LAR, died one year ago today while serving in the al Anbar province of Iraq. Just before he redeployed, he married Emily and they had dreams of a long and happy life together. That was not to be. However, his wife and family have turned their grief into a positive force for helping other families. They've created the Corporal Nich Dieruf Memorial Fund which benefits military families throughout the world by providing assistance and support to the families who give much so that we can live in freedom. It's a wonderful effort and very worthy of your support.
Another family finding solace in helping others is that of LCpl Brad Shuder who was killed in combat last April 9 in Fallujah. They'll use donated funds to help 2/1 Marines with the wounds of war - both physical and emotional. And they're reaching out to other families. "I just hope the families have support - people around them when they need them," Brad's mother, Rosemary Shuder, said in a recent interview. "The grieving process is excruciating."
Mike and Molly Morel lost their son, Capt Brent Morel, last April 7. Molly described Brent's death as "the end of half my dreams for the future." Regardless, both parents are reaching out to other families of fallen Marines as a coping mechanism to deal with their own grief. And they need that same support just as much.
As these anniversaries approach, it's hard to know what to say. But it's essential to say it anyway. The knowledge that a beloved son, daughter, husband, wife, mother or father is remembered as the hero that they were is a tremendous comfort. And written memories help. Write down your recollections and send it along. If you didn't know them personally, express your appreciation for the service and sacrifice. Do it. Just do it. If it's hard for you, think about how much harder it is for the families who are thinking back to that knock on the door. And then do it anyway.
Posted by Deb at April 8, 2005 12:58 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://marinecorpsmoms.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.cgi/633
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Anniversaries:
» Stop The Presses! Good News In WOT! from Villainous Company
And it's from [be still my beating heart...] the New York Times: Two years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the American-led military campaign in Iraq is making enough progress in fighting insurgents and training Iraqi security forces to allow... [Read More]
Tracked on April 15, 2005 04:57 AM
Comments
Thank you, Deb..
thank you, thank you, thank you.
These anniversaries are going to keep coming.
I went to a leadership course last month and a chaplain spoke about death and dealing with it..
he said that 90% is just showing up. Just for people to keep in mind. Who cares if you don't have a great speech to make or a great pie to feed the grieving...just go and be there.
Thank you again and thank your son, Shane, for showing up.
Carrie
Posted by: Carrie at April 8, 2005 05:27 PM
I want to take this time to say thank you to each and every one of our falled heroes. You gave all that we have freedoms, we have peace, and you helped those opressed. You have made me be proud of our Country and the armed forces that protect and serve. I know that it is not the president, the presidents men, congress, preachers, or protestors that have given so much for our Country and those who are oppressed. It is each and every one of you. Thank you form my heart to your spirit and to your families, friends, your band of brothers, to my sons who served, to all who have served. We will miss you, but we will never forget the true heroes. Thank you again for serving and caring. I salute you!!!
Posted by: Noralee Walter at April 11, 2005 07:21 PM