Rememberance



I look at this picture and it is difficult for me not to be moved.

In that casket I see the body of the most handsome man in the world.

He was a marine, strong, loyal, determined, with clean cut hair and a shave that smells so good when you hug him. Strong arms that make you feel safe when he holds you. He died fighting, or he died in an accident, or he died traveling. He died honorably, with the shouts and yells of his brothers around him, all of them demanding he live; he died in the hospital, with doctors and nurses gathered around him, looking at his hard, soft, young, old, face, seeing the waste, knowing the need.

And there is his wife.

The woman he chose above all others, the mother of his children, the keeper of his legacy. She waited for him while he was gone. She wept for him, was angry at him, was achingly lonely for him. She would tremble every time she heard his voice on the phone, laugh and cry with every email; she missed him, but she continued on with each day, with work, with children, with living.

She is the most beautiful woman in the world, her face soft and welcoming- hard and lost.

And there she lays now, without him. Next to cold where there should be warm, next to emptiness where there should be comfort. He died doing what he was called to do, fulfilling his vow, protecting freedom, doing a job, giving a life, standing with his brothers while breaking his promises to her to teach his sons to play football, to dance with his daughter while she stands on his feet, to be there when they are old together, to hold his grandchildren in his lap, to hold her hand while they walk down a tree lined lane.

She forgives him. She loves him.

She will always love him.


(Reposted. Thank You to every soldier, to every soldier's family, for your commitment and your sacrifice. Thank You.)

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9 comments

  1. Thank you...beautiful.
    Blessed Memorial Day to you and yours! :)

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  2. i'm going to avoid reading this because it is tear worthy

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  3. Now that did make me cry - this is an achingly beautiful picture and story....and it says it all.

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  4. Anonymous11:31 AM

    You bring up a good point; wives, children, parents, etc. sacrifice a lot for our country, too. Thanks.

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  5. What a beautiful, heart filling post.
    Thank you for posting it.

    Thanks also for pointing out that what I was trying to say on my post title wasn't coming through. I removed it and wrote a comment about why I had put it like that. Sometimes things sound a lot different in my mind than when I type it out. I meant no disrespect on this day, as it is a remembrance day very close to my heart.

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  6. Wow...that was beautiful!! That says it all.

    Big hugs,
    Brittany

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  7. What a beautiful tribute - thank you!!

    See you soon - Kellan

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  8. Anonymous4:34 PM

    Hi!
    Thank you so much for remembering and posting this wonderful tribute!
    Have a great week.
    ~Christine

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  9. Anonymous11:27 PM

    That was beautiful.

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