Independence

[leonaashlee]

I will be gone tomorrow, so I am posting this now. I hope for us all to remember that freedom is not free. Below are a couple of scrapbook pages that I made about our son Benjamin, who died in Iraq on Christmas Eve, 2003.


FREEDOM
Main Entry:free·dom
Pronunciation:\ˈfrē-dəm\
Function:noun
Date:before 12th century
1: the quality or state of being free: as a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous d: ease, facility e: the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken f: improper familiarity g: boldness of conception or execution h: unrestricted use

Ben with family


Ben was helping to rebuild Iraqi schools


For your tomorrow, we gave our today....


We love and miss you Ben

[harsh.kataruka]

No words I or anyone says now would justify your loss..

I'm truly sorry, and can only offer my consolations with these small words :

"EK DIN BIK JAAYEGA MAATI KE MOL,
JAG MEIN REH JAAYENGE PYARE TERE BOL".

This is opening lines of a very famous old Hindi Song. Literally translated, it means :

one day you will be sold for the price of mud, all that'll be left of you would be your words

What it tries to convey is that - one day, everyone's worth would become zero.. all that you'll be remembered by are your deeds.

and there can be no greater honor/deed than have fought for your country.

Your son truly was a hero!! My salute goes to him and heart goes out to your family.

[leonaashlee]

Thank you so much....what you say is so true. Thanks for sharing that sentiment.

[billmac57]

Fate gave the word, the arrow sped,
And pierc'd my darling's heart;
And with him all the joys are fled
Life can to me impart.

By cruel hands the sapling drops,
In dust dishonour'd laid;
So fell the pride of all my hopes,
My age's future shade.

The mother-linnet in the brake
Bewails her ravish'd young;
So I, for my lost darling's sake,
Lament the live-day long.

Death, oft I've feared thy fatal blow.
Now, fond, I bare my breast;
O, do thou kindly lay me low
With him I love, at rest!

There are no words that I could express my feelings, but this poem by Robert Burns says it all.
Bill MacFarlane

[leonaashlee]

Thank you Bill for your kind words. And for the poem.

[Fred flyfisher]

Wow... Leona, my words can only pale in comparison the loss you have experienced in your life. We have given up our young people time and time again. They have paid the ultimate price for the freedom of numerous peoples the world over. I only hope they are greatful. Only two people I know of have ever offered to die for strangers. The American Soldier and the Lord Jesus. Why do we do it? I don't know if I have a good answer for that. Millions have died at the hands of tyrants and despots. I suppose billions more would have died had our loved ones not stepped in where others were too afraid or careless or selfish to. Your Son Ben is a true American hero and we will honor his memory for as long as time allows. Your photos are living proof of the joy honor and love that was brought into the world by him. Thanks for sharing these memories of your son, a precious life that was taken away far too soon.

- Fred

[leonaashlee]

Thank you for your sentiments Fred. I agree with every word. It was a horrendous loss...for all of us as Ben was such a fun loving guy...they called him over there the ever smiling Ben Biskie. Well, such is life, and we must go on...the pain lessens a bit, but we never forget.

[mad editor]

Leona, my heart goes out to you. I am the mother of three young men.
I cannot imagine such a loss.There are no words...

[willthisdo]

My heart goes out to you. So sad to see these young lives lost.

[leonaashlee]

Thank you mad editor and willthisdo. I appreciate your kind words so much. We've lost far too many in this war...even one was too many.