Thursday, August 03, 2006

It is times like these that having my blog titled "Who Said Life Wasn't Funny" isn't appropriate. I tend to veer away from the heavier topics and endeavour to make people laugh, but there are times and topics when laughter isn't appropriate.

Four soldiers will come home this weekend. They will be flown into Toronto and my brother will be part of the unit that brings these fallen soldiers home to rest. There will be no hugs hello to family or whispered endearments to their beloved sons and husbands. There will instead be empty arms and hearts crushed by the weight of their immeasurable loss.

It seems that there are times when our words and sentiments are not enough. Despite that, I will say that I believe with all my heart that these people lived and died in a most honorable way. They served a purpose with their lives - though cut short - far greater than most of us will ever attain.

23 Canadian soldiers have given their lives to rid the world of evil and restore hope to people who had been forgotten by the world. 23 families have said goodbye to their children, their spouses and their parents. A number too high to count have said farewell to their friend and fellow soldier.

When my brother stands in his uniform and escorts our fallen hero’s home this weekend, my thoughts are with him and these soldiers’ families.

Bring our heroes home and lay them to rest beneath our beautiful ground. Let them go with peace and with our gratitude knowing that they have left behind a world far better for having had them in it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

very beautifully written, hon....

Anonymous said...

this reminds me of a passage in the bible-i forget which won, but it basically says: there are some who are cut down quick, they fall early because the world does not deserve them. your words made me think of this and these men (and women) who are far from home fighing a war that most of us don't even acknowledge on a day-to-day basis. shame on me. thanks for sharing.

Kat said...

You know Liz, somehow you're going to help me gain the courage to ask my grandfathers about the war. It's really hard to ask someone about something they've never offered to speak of. And like your brother said, most soldiers serve silently. I'll dare to say they continue to do so to their grave. But I have not forgotten what my grandfathers gave to me. I'd like to be able to hear and share their stories,but I am sensitive to the pain that may cause and so I feel stuck. You have such a beautiful thing in that article your brother spoke in. Maybe he would know better how to speak to men who have been silent since their ships came into port. Thank you for sharing what's been in my mind and heart for many years.
I love you.
Kath