FORT STEWART, Ga. - A lone woman kneels on the cold, hard ground. Pure white headstones surround her, a reminder of sacrifices made and those yet to come. Small puffs rise from her mouth, and her shoulders gently shake as her silent sobs meet the cold morning air. The woman's grief is not hers alone; she shares it with mothers throughout time.
I can remember the day my friend's big brother joined the Army. His parents were filled with such pride. His mother's pride, as with all mothers whose child is serving in the military, was matched only by her concern for his well being.
In my hometown there is a water tower that people have painted with their declarations of love to one another for anniversaries or happy birthday messages. I drove by it on a daily basis and never paid much attention to the messages painted there. However, this day the water tower bore a more somber message. It began with the words "In loving memory," painted over an American flag. My friend's big brother would not be coming home from Iraq.
Though the years have passed, the pain of losing that loved one has not. Yearly the Family gathers to remember their big brother… their friend… their son. Through the pain you can still see the pride in his mother's eyes as she remembers him, knowing her son gave his life fighting for his country.
As Soldiers, a majority of us have been to a memorial service for a Fallen Soldier. In my brigade alone, there is wall commemorating the Fallen Soldiers who have lost their lives in battle.
Recently, the Special Troops Battalion and 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade each lost a Soldier while deployed. We've seen those mothers crying as friends and senior leaders speak kind words about the Fallen Soldier, often citing their sacrifice for love of country. We see that fallen comrade as they were; a Soldier, strong and skilled. It is important that we remember those mothers who shed tears.
In a mother's eyes, no matter how old we are, no matter how strong we've become and no matter how far we've traveled, we will always be their babies. They will always see us while remembering those tears of joy as we uttered our first words, the apprehension that came as they watched us take our first steps, and the overwhelming pride they felt the first time they saw us in uniform.
When a Soldier falls in battle it is often described as making the ultimate sacrifice, but I think the ultimate sacrifice is made by the mothers who support their sons' or daughters' choice to join the military, knowing that one day their child could fall. Survivor Outreach Services recognizes this sacrifice, and will host their second Gold Star Mother's Day Ceremony at the Main Post Chapel, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. This ceremony recognizes and honors those who have lost a son or daughter while serving, and is the perfect opportunity for Soldiers to interact with the mothers of fallen Soldiers and recognize them for their strength and sacrifice. It is our duty to support these women and let them know that though their Soldier is no longer here, we are, and their sacrifice was not made in vain.
"There is no greater service than to give your life for another person," said Cheryl Sowell, the support coordinator for the Survivor Outreach Services, a program that falls under the Army Community Services program. "Although this is officially the Gold Star Mothers Day, it is important to remember it is not only the mothers who suffer. These Soldiers have left behind a whole Family that cared and misses them."
"If you have a funny story that a parent of a fallen Soldier might not have heard, it's so easy to write a letter and tell it to them," said Meghan Page, the SOS financial counselor. "They love to hear from other Soldiers who knew their Soldier."
The smallest, most simple acts on our part can mean so much to the mothers and Families of a fallen Soldier. It could be something you already do on a daily basis and you just don't know the impact it has on their loved ones. There's no reason why we can't take a few moments out of our days to honor these great mothers and their Families.
"The most important thing other Soldiers can do for these Families is to keep their loved one's memory alive," added Sowell. "This can include the smallest act, even to include wearing those killed in action bracelets, and letting others know how that Soldier gave their life to help others."
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