Another Soldier Dies...
Today is the first day of June in the year 2006. Today is a significant day because it marks the day that I attended Adam Garcia's funeral service at Saint Anne's Catholic Church.
I have known Adam for nearly eight years. Though Adam was merely an acquaintance of mine, he is one of those people who sticks in the back of your mind. His kind words, sincerity and thoughtfulness truly defines his character. He was looked up to by many and he will be remembered by many.
Adam served in the Unites States Army for four years and recently re-enlisted for another tour in Iraq. After six months of combat in his second term, Adam's life was taken from him in honor of his country...as some might say.
The prayer card I was handed read, "In loving memory of J. Adan "Adam" Garcia...July 5, 1985-May 27, 2006."
"For he will always be remembered as a great friend to many and man who lived his life to its fullest potential," his Aunt Ruby (twenty year army veteran) uttered.
I also got a laminated card that reads a poem Adam wrote. It was written as followed:
He stands alone in the shadow of fear
He is leaving his friends and his family
The thought of war in his mind not so clear
For he has joined the United States Army
And he must believe in himself strongly
Because in war if he fights strong and dies
It will be known that he fought bravely
For death is the one thing he does despise
And if he dies at home there his body lies
They will pin his medals upon his chest
And his mom will remember his brown eyes
They will tell her he has done his very best
By facing his fears his war has been won
Now he can call himself an army of one
By Adam Garcia May 2003
When I read that passage I thought...what does that mean. Is that one of those forms where when Adam was enrolling for the army, he was told to fill out and sign in case he came face to face with death, or did Adam actually inscribe those words, word for word, as if he was ready to set his life aside for his country.
I often forget how many mothers have to watch their eighteen year olds go off to war. When I saw the sadness in that one mothers eye, I realized the thousands of other mothers who had to come to the same moment in time.
Is it tears of guilt?...for letting them go fight for their country....is it just complete and utter sadness of loosing a child....or was the mother proud that her son served for this country and died in honor?
I honestly can not say that I am an anti-war advocate. I admit that I don't know enough about the government system and its politics. But I feel that I am not alone in this matter. We only know as much as the media is willing to dispense and of course, what is government approved.
Yes, in some ways the Civil War settled a great deal at the time..but if the concept of war had never existed what would be of this world today?
All of these rhetorical questions, I have risen, in my opinion explain why we have war. We have horrible international communication skills and little to no compromise. So is war really solving anything or is it just the aftermath of what could have been settled in a civil conversation.
Could it be that the government is using us as bait...to get what they want..."I mean what's best for the country...right?"
I have known Adam for nearly eight years. Though Adam was merely an acquaintance of mine, he is one of those people who sticks in the back of your mind. His kind words, sincerity and thoughtfulness truly defines his character. He was looked up to by many and he will be remembered by many.
Adam served in the Unites States Army for four years and recently re-enlisted for another tour in Iraq. After six months of combat in his second term, Adam's life was taken from him in honor of his country...as some might say.
The prayer card I was handed read, "In loving memory of J. Adan "Adam" Garcia...July 5, 1985-May 27, 2006."
"For he will always be remembered as a great friend to many and man who lived his life to its fullest potential," his Aunt Ruby (twenty year army veteran) uttered.
I also got a laminated card that reads a poem Adam wrote. It was written as followed:
He stands alone in the shadow of fear
He is leaving his friends and his family
The thought of war in his mind not so clear
For he has joined the United States Army
And he must believe in himself strongly
Because in war if he fights strong and dies
It will be known that he fought bravely
For death is the one thing he does despise
And if he dies at home there his body lies
They will pin his medals upon his chest
And his mom will remember his brown eyes
They will tell her he has done his very best
By facing his fears his war has been won
Now he can call himself an army of one
By Adam Garcia May 2003
When I read that passage I thought...what does that mean. Is that one of those forms where when Adam was enrolling for the army, he was told to fill out and sign in case he came face to face with death, or did Adam actually inscribe those words, word for word, as if he was ready to set his life aside for his country.
I often forget how many mothers have to watch their eighteen year olds go off to war. When I saw the sadness in that one mothers eye, I realized the thousands of other mothers who had to come to the same moment in time.
Is it tears of guilt?...for letting them go fight for their country....is it just complete and utter sadness of loosing a child....or was the mother proud that her son served for this country and died in honor?
I honestly can not say that I am an anti-war advocate. I admit that I don't know enough about the government system and its politics. But I feel that I am not alone in this matter. We only know as much as the media is willing to dispense and of course, what is government approved.
Yes, in some ways the Civil War settled a great deal at the time..but if the concept of war had never existed what would be of this world today?
All of these rhetorical questions, I have risen, in my opinion explain why we have war. We have horrible international communication skills and little to no compromise. So is war really solving anything or is it just the aftermath of what could have been settled in a civil conversation.
Could it be that the government is using us as bait...to get what they want..."I mean what's best for the country...right?"
posted by Juli at 8:24 PM
1 Comments:
Great post. Seriously.
The only suggestion I would offer would be to put in some statistics (how many Adams are there? How many young men and women have wound up like him?)
Good job.
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