Saturday, January 26, 2008

PERSPECTIVE

A few days ago, I wrote in my blog about my sadness about the death of Heath Ledger. He seems to have been a decent guy as celebrities go, and it is always sad to see a young life end. But, that's as far as it goes. I didn't know the man, and he didn't know I existed, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time dwelling on it. After 4 days of extensive news coverage about every aspect and thought about his death, I started to think about how many other people died this week that haven't even been a blip on the news. I'm thinking of our young military people that died in Iraq this week that you don't hear any mention of and you don't hear their names, ever. Maybe, you might catch a hint that they died when a total is mentioned, or if there was something "special" enough to draw the attention away from the celebrity train wreck of the day. I spent a while looking and It was really hard to even find a U.S. Casualties list, but I want to recognize that these young men lived, and died when they also had their whole lives ahead of them. They weren't rich and famous, we didn't know them any better than we "know" a movie star, but they have families and friends that loved them, and a nation of people and news agencies that should know about them and hear their names whenever they leave our world..

Spc. Richard B. Burgess - age 25 -Naples Florida -died Jan. 19 - Army - killed in Al Jabour Iraq of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an IED

Lance Cpl. James M. Gluff - Age 20 - Tunnel Hill, Georgia -Died January 19- Marines -died conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting - Age 27- Hancock New York-Died January 19- Special Forces Airborne- Died in Mosul Iraq of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an IED

Spc. Jon M. Schoolcraft III - age 26-Wapakoneta, Ohio-Died January 19- Army- Died in Taji Iraq of wounds sustained when his Vehicle struck an IED

Sgt. Michael R. Sturdivant - age 20- Army Conway Arkansas- Died January 22, in Kirkuk Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident during convoy operations

I hope that we will also shed a tear for them ....

3 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

Yes, I so agree with what you are expressing here. I just did a label for a female soldier who died at 20 and couldn't help think that her life is so over now. The project is Mother's Day Project & the organizer is asking women to embroider the name of a fallen female soldier for a spot on totebags. Very good project.

Rian said...

Teri, what a thoughtful post and a beautiful tribute to our fallen heroes. It really puts things into perspective.

Karen said...

I also do labels for fallen soldiers...I have to read (and touch and feel) their names and info...it's a huge eye-opener. Thanks for posting this.