First stage - denial.
Friday a week ago, a “local woman“, lost her twenty-year-old son to the war in Iraq. His story was on the daily news, for everyone to see. He was a hometown kid who'd gone to Boy's Latin and after the war, had plans to be on his way to Towson University. His former principal and teachers spoke well of his presence in life, said he was a really positive kid, with a great sense of humor, a leader. His father said that he’d always wanted to be a soldier, he had learned responsibility at an early age.
I know the boy's mother, so the first time I saw the report, and recognized her face, I watched with such sadness her gentle speaking and public grief. She talked about how you support your kids in what they want to do. How even though she was a pacifist, she knew he always wanted to be a sniper in the marines and she didn’t stop him. She understood the pride he had in what he was doing. I saw the pain on her face through the eyes of the network news, and all I could do was yell out no that didn't happen and curse.
Denial has never magically reversed death. Everyone who knew and loved this boy, for his promise yet to be fulfilled, will wish through out these days of family gatherings and celebrations for the nightmare of mortalities fragile truth to end. We will continue to hold vigil for those not yet returned, and those others destined to live their days entrenched in the jaws of war.
This son of America will be buried on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, in Arlington National Cemetery.
Linda Joy Burke
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