Memorial Ceremony - inspiration

We just had a memorial ceremony yesterday for one of our Soldiers who was killed in a recent firefight. I have saluted the Soldier's cross (boots with an upside down rifle and helmet with dog tags) at least a dozen times now. Each time, whether I've personally known the Soldier or not, it has brought about a certain kind of pain. A pain that knows it won't be the last time I render such a solemn salute. A pain that prays to God that others won't have to render such a salute to me because I never want Robyn and Porter to have to suffer through what that means.

But this was different than the other times. This was the first time since my first deployment that I have attended a ceremony while down range. The first deployment, I was still a new LT, and it just seemed surreal. I followed the person in front of me, did not know the Soldier, and rendered a salute as was the custom. The pain and heartache of those around me was not my own, because I had not experienced the loss of someone I knew, and I was still somewhat neive to what it meant to lose a Soldier to one of these bastards.

This time was different because I am acutely aware of the fragility of this life, and have been the one comforting the family through the painful notification; through the funeral and the aftermath that goes with the loss of their Soldier. When I see the memorial for this Soldier whom I've joked with at least once or twice and seen around the FOB, and I'm sure for all future memorial services, it brings to mind all those I've known who have gone before. It brings to mind the families of those who've gone before and the strength and pain that I have witnessed in them.

Watching the Soldiers in the company and platoon who really knew this Soldier, crying, and hugging each other as they mourn together on this day, I feel for them. I am proud of them. Their strength and courage to continue on a daily basis when millions of Americans back home know nothing of their sacrifice, brings me strength. After the ceremony, they'll have time to share stories and remember their brother in arms. But, after that day, they'll be back out, conducting patrols, making damn sure that the sacrifice of their brother was for a reason. Many of them will use his memory to serve as the fervor to spurn them further on the several mile dismounted movement, carrying nearly one hundred pounds of gear, halfway around the globe away from their loved ones.

Perhaps what is more admirable is the restraint and courage that the platoon and company have shown in the wake of this loss. They rose above and refused to take it out on the local population of the villages in the area that they took fire from...although it can be most certainly said that the people in the area probably knew who conducted the attack, and where they went with their injured/killed insurgents. Instead, they realized that these people are in a difficult place...help the Americans today, face the insurgents tomorrow who come and beat or kill them when the Americans are at another village or back at their FOB.

The Soldiers will not let this stop them, and will be back out there after the insurgents who hide like cowards in plain sight, intimidating the locals into submission. I am proud to be a part of this. I am proud of our batallion and look forward to seeing their progress throughout the rest of the deployment.