I was called to work Thursday morning, the last day of school, to fill in for a co-worker whom I later found out that she had received news of her husbands death earlier that morning.
I have to say I currently live in a place where "deployments" and "war" are everyday terms and I believe you eventually form a buffer to the stark reality of it all. I may sit with you for coffee at Starbuck's and you may tell me your husband left 2 months ago for Afghanistan and the response is "Oh, let me know if you need anything". As in this case, I looked at The Richardson's ball pictures on her desk at work prior to his death and thought "What a cute couple, they look so happy". The thought never crossed my mind of "I wonder if he will ever make it home to share in the Marine Corps traditions and once again take another "cute" picture with his wife or even tuck his son into bed?"
I should be ashamed for not looking at every moment and realizing that it is a gift. The Marine Corps worked so quickly to get Jenny and her son home that I never had a chance to express our sorrow and to say simple words that mean so little during such painful times. Lord be with them when there are no other words of comfort. CW02 Rick Richardson, Godspeed...
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want
in...And how many want out. Only two defining forces have ever offered
to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American Soldier..One died for our
soul, the other for our freedom."
1 comment:
I completely agree with you. We should all stop and realize this could be the last day so tell your friends and loved one that you love them. My heart goes out to all these familes that have to be seperated from their loved ones and then they don't know if they will come back. I don't know how they do it but my hat is off to all of them and prayers every single day! Tamra Wade
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