Remember Them Too

Today, in many places across the country, life will be put on hold for a moment at 11am. The shoppers in malls will stop and fall silent, pedestrians will pause wherever they are, and churches will be filled with people bowing their heads, but not to God. It is the time we, as a country, pause to reflect upon the good fortune we have as Canadians living in a free and democratic society; courtesy of the men and women in the armed forces who have given their lives in war. Poems will be read, hymns will be sung. Tears will be shed, and bells will be rung.

And somewhere, a child will be missing a parent they hardly knew, but can never forget.

It has been six years since the initial assault on Afghanistan, and in that time many soldiers have lost their lives. Some of them were parents, leaving behind small children who didn't really understand what it meant when their mother told them that their Daddy is dead. But now, time has passed, and these children have grown up, and now they are ready to learn about what happened to their parent.

Some of them have vague memories of a man who held them when they were scared. Others can recall specific episodes in their lives. And some only have photos and videos of the man they will never get to know. Yet all of them will have to endure this day, every year for the rest of their lives. They will have to be reminded that their Daddy was a hero, that he died protecting the freedoms and liberties everyone in the country enjoys. They will be told, time and again, that he was a brave man, a good man. And that they should be proud of him for what he did, for the sacrifice he made.

But what about them? What about their feelings of abandonment, of having missed out on the father-daughter dance, or the father-son banquet for little league? Is someone there telling them that while what their father died a hero, it's OK for them to feel hurt and upset by his absence? Just because a father died in war doesn't mean he didn't leave a family behind. And it certainly doesn't mean his kids don't have a right to be angry.

So today, when you're observing that moment of silence, try to not only think about the bravery of those who died protecting our freedom and way of life, but also for the children they left behind, that they will someday make peace with the fact that they gave up their father so that we may be free.

To read more SciFi Dad, you can go to Tales From The Dad Side.

Comments

[Multi-tasking Mommy]

A very moving post! Well written :)

[mamatulip]

Hear, hear.