Dads

Ambush at the River of Secrets--a CNN special report on four Marines killed in January, 2005 aired tonight. It's hard to watch reports concerning the war. To me the war is parents losing sons and daughters, siblings losing heros, men and women losing loves. After detailing the events of the battle the story switched to the families back home. Two of the Dads spoke words I understand well. The circumstances are different. Reality is the same.

Driving to work a soldiers Dad takes a call on his cell phone from the Marines. He's told his son is dead. Within minutes of hearing the horrific news, he has to tell his son's Mother that her boy is gone. This man spoke his trauma as, "I don't know which was worse, hearing my son was dead or telling his Mother." Yes, I don't know either.

A career State Patrol Officer, who has seen more than his share of death and destruction, lost his son in the ambush. When interviewed for the story he said something like, "Its the first thing I think of when I wake up every morning, it's with me all day long, and it's the last thought when I go to sleep. Nearly two years later, and people say 'time will make it better' but I haven't seen that." I'm with you morning, noon, and night. I concur, time is not making it better.

I cried hearing the Dads tell their pain. I cry most everyday for my son. Tonight my tears are for Dads of these soldiers. The young men are soldiers once, sons first, and Dad's boys forever.

Dads love their sons and want them home.
I know.

Aaron's Dad.