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Plan on sharing with everyone I know Oct 23, 2009
I happened to find this book perusing the aisle at Barnes and Noble. It immediately hit close to home as the girlfriend of a service member. I flipped to the back cover and the last pages of the book to find what I was hoping to see "a portion of the profits from the book are being donated to military families who have lost a loved one."
That was all I needed to see. Many thanks to the author for writing so beautifully on this very hard to fathom topic. I plan on sharing this with everyone I know.
Graceful portrayal of all that has been lost Oct 02, 2009
This is a beautiful book, simply written, but its message is all too important to be missed. I wish all Americans would read this book: they should. My final year in college I studied "the gap" between military and civilian society, and this book eloquently illuminates so much of what civilians have forgotten and what they're missing - that we're at WAR, and the COST of these wars. It's pitiful in this democracy that our citizens are so distanced from the sacrifices made by so few people for so many people. It's pitiful that so many of our leaders who are in charge of sending our men and women into battle have never served in combat themselves, let alone have any children serving in the war. In WWI the draft was created so that not only the PRIVILEGED in society served!! It used to be an HONOR! Now our warriors are mostly forgotten on college campuses and from the majority of our media coverage. I think to that picture that was published (I don't remember where) of a white board (I think in Iraq) on which someone wrote, "The United States is not a war; the Marines Corps is at war. America is at the mall." And isn't that true? Since 9/11 we've been told to go about our business. But the sacrifices made at our Presidents' orders, and on the part of many Iraqi citizens so that they may someday have a better life, deserve to be paid attention to. People should be talking about this. Professors, reporters, our parents and neighbors... we need to REMEMBER. Regardless of how you feel about whether we should have gone in or not, it should not take away the appreciation for what all of these unfinished lives have sacrificed, and all that their families have sacrificed. The greatest gift we can give our military and their families is to REMEMBER. -Kara, proud Marine wife
A book that all Americans should read Sep 11, 2009
Well, there's already a lot of reviews for this book. So I will try a different approach.
This is not a book that you read straight off in one sitting. It hurts too much inside to keep going. You must necessarily stop and put the book down to wipe away the tears as you regain your own composure ( there I go again with the tears as I write these words ). This book contains bitter realizations about life and the bravery of America's finest citizens who make the ultimate sacrifice for a Nation which is frequently indifferent and aloof, but also hopeful and inspiring. But like a fine brandy, you necessarily return to the book again to sip some more, even if the story is that of loss and lament. You see, this book is also about redemption, valor, honor, and hope. The beauty of the book is it's apolitical approach which simply brings us into the lives of people that we would have otherwise never known. This book utterly humbles me.
Mr. Sheeler does a masterful job of stepping back from what is a very emotional immersion in the process of grief and loss. He brings the reader along with him as if you too are an observer watching that heart-broken bride throw herself upon her lost love's casket on an airport tarmac ( that's the image I can not get out of my own mind, so powerful is Sheeler's descriptive prose here ).
I wish that this book were mandatory reading for all Americans. We could each learn humility and compassion by taking the time to walk astride these heros and their equally brave, but hear-broken families. We might also learn what true citizenship and tolerance really means in these very difficult times in which we live. It's been months since I've read this book. Yet I think about this book and the people in it often.
We have a son in the Air Force who will deploy to Afghanistan in the future. We fear for him, but we're OK with all of that. Mr. Sheeler's book has taught us a humility and an inner peace, a lesson learned through the loss of other brave American families. He and the people in his book make me proud to be an American.
0 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Tugs at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. Aug 19, 2009
Mr. Sheeler introduces us to the finest men and women on this planet. America's greatest heroes who are found in the ranks of the American military. Major Steve Beck, United States Marine Corps, has a mission that frightens every United States Marine. His duty is marked with pride and grief, honor and sadness.
The book eloquently tells us of their ultimate sacrifice and honor. How truly wonderful and blessed we are in America because of the bravery, honor, courage, duty, sacrifice, devotion, dedication, patriotism and commitment our military personnel and their families make to each other and this great nation of ours.
How so many brave men and women find courage in defending this nation, when others run away from committment or sense of duty. How pride can attempt to overcome grief, maybe for just a fleeing moment. How our military makes a difference when others just talk of doing so. How noble are the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their loved ones.
The picture of Mrs. Katherine Cathey draped over the casket of her husband, Second Lieutenant James Cathey, United States Marine Corps, brings tears to my eyes each and every time I view it. So many pictures in this book also bring to light the love and honor of these men and women.
I am not ashamed to say I weep with pride and sadness of all their stories. Again, the pictures are riveting and their stories are compelling. We can never bring back to life those who have paid the ultimate price, but we can continue to honor their memory and their families for ever. Their un-finished lives will be finished in heaven.
MAY GOD BLESS THE MEN AND WOMEN (AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES) OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY........
Final Salute May 26, 2009
People need to read this book, then reflect on how we should require our government to provide more aid for the families experiencing the loss of loved one.
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