I'm not American, nor am I overly patriotic, but after listening to my husband yesterday, and hearing his voice crack as he told me his story, his words hit a chord with me.
You see, my husband is a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and a current Civil Servant on Robins Air Force Base and like well over 10,000 of the base populace, he was standing out on the street yesterday morning waiting for a Fallen Angel (a troop killed in action) burial procession to pass by.
He, nor any of the others, were ordered to be outside, they chose to "be in-place" in honor of a fallen comrade. U.S. Marine Corporal Stephen "Cody" Sockalosky, stationed at Camp Lejeun in North Carolina, was killed in action in Afghanistan Oct 6th. The young soldier hailed from Cordele GA, just down the road from us.
I can't tell you much about Cody as I didn't personally know him or his family, couldn't tell you he was a good student in school, no idea if he was funny or serious, don't even know his favorite food, but I know as a Marine he was proud to serve and defend this nation and that his committment to his/yours/our country ultimately cost him his life.
Full of emotion as we talked, here is what my husband told me after he got back to his office..."I didn't know this kid, this Fallen Angel, but as the police cars and motorcycle club escorts began to pass, immense RESPECT welled up in me as I saluted a fellow soldier. That was followed almost immediately by SADNESS as the hearst passed and the family vehicles approached. The passenger window of the lead trailing vehicle was down and a woman about my age (my input...late 40s) who was probably his mother, was shouting to the crowd in her bravest voice, "Thank You". It was at that moment my lower lip started to quiver and I felt incredible PRIDE. Not because I was standing with thousands but because this woman who was clearly full of grief was thanking us for being there. I wanted to yell, don't thank us, THANK YOU for raising a son who was brave, who took his oath of committment serious, who was half way around the world defending freedom, and who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf. Instead, like everyone else I said nothing and silently watched the line of vehicles move down the road. The best I could muster was a sincere silent prayer for the family, asking God to comfort them during this time of sorrow."
If you know a soldier, sailor, marine, airmen, or another public servant who serves in a capacity that puts them in harms way, take a moment today and let them know you are incredibly thankful for what they do. If they are overseas serving, tell their family you are praying for their loved ones safe return, then actually pray. It's too late for Corporal Sockalosky, but it's not too late to pray for the thousands who still put on the uniform each and every day. Me, you, all of us, can make a difference!
God Bless!
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