I first want to thank all of you for all of your support and heartfelt comments, not just for me, but for all of our family (military and otherwise). This feeling of support is what our soldiers, and their families, need… especially now. Thank you.
I wanted to quote so many of you who have posted and address your sentiments individually, but it would all boil down to “thank you”, and I’m glad I could help / inform / indulge / occupy / enlighten you and I’m sorry if I made you cry… wasn’t my goal… honestly…
I found one post which I think sums up a lot and I highlighted what I thought was important.
On further reflection, I want to expand my "thanks" to a much broader audience: everyone who's putting themselves in harm's way for us here safely in Canada. The sentiment is there throughout Piper's message, but somehow I missed it. I've been re-reading your passage in my head, and it struck me: I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who's over there, those that have returned and those that are going. Piper, your experience is not unique, which means two important things:
First, you are not alone in what you are feeling.
Second, it's unfair of me to single you out. You made your post to tell us the depth of the sacrifice and the raw edge to the experience that our soldiers are dealing with, so that we could better appreciate it. I do, as a result of your notes. So while I thank you specifically for writing them and for all you've done in service to Canada, I also thank those you served with for their courage, hard work and sacrifice.
We, as a community, are here to support you and your 'family.' Just let us know how we can help.
Cheers
Mike
Our community is what makes our army strong and our country free.
My experience was far from unique. There are at least 5 more returned home from the day I was wounded… and at least 1 from the day before (HoM). There is a company of wounded still over there from those 2 days as well.
As the tour progresses, there will be more coming home... And more still there.
I saw war for 3 weeks… I only had a taste of it.
Those who are still there have to deal with these same emotions as well as fight. That is why the family bond must stay strong.
I know I’m not alone. If what I wrote helps someone to come to terms with what they feel, or invokes the same feeling from within, and they choose to reach out to the rest of our family, then I will not have written one word in vain.
Mike, I don’t think a better understanding could be written. All I could think when I read your post was “Yes… Exactly… Thank you for understanding.”
I said the following to a few other people via PM;
I’m not trying to be a Martyr or Messiah. I don’t want pity. I just needed to vent. I’m glad to see so much support, but I hope that this much support is afforded to the others who have come home, and to those who will come home, wounded or otherwise.
And as for sharing what I have posted; I wouldn’t have posted it on a public forums if I didn’t want people to read it. So if you want to post it elsewhere, feel free to do so with my blessing.
Cheers,
- Piper
