A Special Senior Response
As a teacher I have seen a variety of outstanding responses from our Out of Eden Walk slow walk field trip to the Indy Canal. One of the young men in our senior class is a very sensitive and often quiet person who feels very strongly about the losses of members of his family who have served in the military. He has spoken to me often of these losses. I noticed that he spent much longer at each of the war memorials along the canal than most of his class. Here is his written reflection.
The Fallen Heroes
When taking a stroll on the way back to the bus I saw a memorial for every soldier killed in any major war that was from Indiana. I think the one that hit me the most was the names of the fallen whose lives were lost in Afghanistan. December 6 of last year I lost my cousin in Afghanistan during a bombing of his air base. This war has a very deep connection with me because not only did my cousin die in that’s war but one of my other cousins was stationed in Afghanistan 10 miles out of the city of Kabul and no more than 3 miles away from an active terrorist cell. My family has served in many wars fought by America. I lost two great-grandparents in WWII. One was killed by the Japanese and the other was killed by the Germans.
I don’t know the names of the men who all were on that piece of glass but I feel a connection through my family and I have deep respect and sorrow for the families of the fallen. If you want to see a real hero just take a walk and find war memorials. The men and women whose name is on that memorial fought and died to protect everything that they saw as sacred and holy. Real heroes don’t wear their name on the back of a jersey, but they wear their country’s flag on the side of their sleeve. Heroes are not only those who just served but also those who laid down their life for their country and all those who inhabit it.
I took to heart these names because if you were to look at how society has progressed since they sacrificed their own life so that we could hold the freedom we have in the United States. I too feel the necessity to stand to the call and join my brothers and sisters in arms and defend, protect, and uphold the constitution of the United States against all threats. I will stand even when it seems that no one else will with me. I have deep roots in fighting for this country’s freedom and I hope to fulfill what my family has done before me and what I hope my family will do after me. I appreciate and pray for the fallen that their souls may be at peace. I believe that above all else freedom must be held onto. I will take up my country’s flag and stand alongside my brothers and sisters in arms and make sure that’s the sacrifices of the fallen not go in vain.