We lost a soldier from our Squadron this week. I don’t have the words to express how I feel. I can’t imagine how the soldiers in our Squadron feel. I don’t want to think about how is loved ones feel.
I know that virtually no one, outside of our community knows he died. They do not realize that on Monday a young man, only 22 years old, sacrificed his life for all of us. They don’t know because no one told them. Outside of this community and probably his hometown community, his death will not be reported in the media.
Americans should know. Each day they should have to see the names of casualties of this war. They should know the sacrifices of these men and women. I don’t know how to make that happen.
But today, I’m asking you to take a moment, just a moment of your day to think about. You can go to this website, icasualites.org to read the names of recent casualties. Rarely does a day go by when there isn’t one.
Read their names and pause a moment to thank them in your heart. We owe them that.
My heart breaks every time I read about our soldiers –and their families — who sacrifice so much. Although I’ve not served, my brother and sister have, and my dad and his stepmom (a WW2 Army nurse). I have former students, as well as friends who currently are in uniform. I don’t know how to thank them, other than to offer babysitting to their families, and to send packages. It is not nearly enough. I am so sorry to hear about this loss. My thoughts are with you all.
I came over here today to tell you to pick up my award for you because I enjoy reading all you posts. But have now been sitting here for the past few minutes, feeling quite silly actually, thinking of that young soldier and the many more who have lost their lives for their country. Thank you for writing this post.
Thank you for sharing that web site with us. You are so right; they deserve our thoughts and prayers and thanks. My prayers are with your squadron right now.
My heart goes out for that young sdier and his family. Beautiful
post Bridget.
Every time you post a death on your photo a day I share it with Joe. It’s so sad. I’m glad you tell.
I am sharing this on my personal Facebook page.
What a sobering reminder. And I’m so very, very sorry for your loss.
Sad. Another life taken. Sending my prayers.
My prayers to his family and friends.
A nice memorial to the fallen in Afghanistan. However, I had read about this prior to your posting on ADN.com. (http://www.adn.com/2012/06/07/2495723/jber-soldier-dies-after-insurgent.html) Alaskans seem to be more in touch with their military community than other areas. It’s great that you have such a tight knit community in Anchorage. My condolences to all of those effected by the loss of this young man.
Yes, it was in our local paper. I would not have written about the casualty unless it had already been published publicly elsewhere. Thank you.
I try to do my part by posting EVERY death from iCasualties on my Facebook page. I have almost 600 friends, so I do what I can to spread the word and have received “thank you’s” from many of them for doing so. You’re right about the media; as a whole, we see nothing about these tragedies. We need to keep what these heroes are doing out there and in front of the general public the best we can.
My son is also part of that squadron, so I stay tuned in to the news daily and pray.
Dallas asked me to light a candle for PFC Vincent Ellis this Sunday.
Thanks Bridget for keeping us all aware.
I’m so very sorry to hear this. Thank you for keeping it in the forefront of peoples mind with this link. You are right, people should know, they should be aware, and they should take a moment to be thankful for all that our soldiers do. My heart goes out to his family.
I read this article this afternoon shortly after reading your post. http://www.ktuu.com/news/truck-bomb-assault-on-afghanistan-base-fatally-injured-soldier-060812,0,3798581.story
May he rest in peace
I take a deep breath, say a prayer and then I cry a little every time I learn of one more death. God bless them and keep them safe
I did know about it because I am in the military and I am so sorry to hear about when we lose another life, especially when it is a soldier from our base. Please do not think that others do not care or know because they are outside of our community. That soldier gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom here and that is something that, unfortunately, is a sacrifice that few are willing to make. Prayers go out to you and your fellow families.
I know this feeling very well
A friend post, every day, the fallen listed in http://freedomremembered.com/
Some of us offer prayers as she posts them.
I just bookmarked the site so I can check it more often. My deepest appreciation to the soldier and his family.
Thank you everyone for your kind words of support.
No – thank YOU for keeping it real. We should always remember there are sacrifices, regardless if it’s on the news – and appreciate that they have made our good life possible. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for the reminder, Bridget. Something like this hits close to home for you, especially- when you are waiting for your own loved ones to return. We do need to remember what is happening every day- Thank you-
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. If it weren’t for you, this loss would’ve been unnoticed. A prayer goes out to his family and loved ones.