There are a lot of people in my life that don't always understand why it is that I do the things I do when it comes to adopting soldiers. In the past couple of years I have taken some grief from different people whether it be a comment like "don't they have a family that can support them" to "my husband would be livid with me if I was having a conversation with another man"and everyhing in between...I am not saying this to call anyone out....because you know what each person has different feelings in their heart. For me Adopt a US Soldier has become my passion, my calling in life....I have never really been able to articulate what it was like to receive that first email, that first letter, or that first little momento. Even today after 2 1/2 years I still get that same excitment when I get a simple email from one of "my" soldiers. I wish I could explain to everyone out there just what is in my heart when it comes to this. I just can't find the words....however today a dear friend of mine (whom I also met through Adopt a Soldier)forwarded me an essay written by a young man. It is about his soldier and what that adoption has meant to him. You see his soldier was killed in action. His words are such an honor and a tribute to this wonderful young man that so bravely paid the Ultimate sacrifice. I am reminded at this moment about the ulitimate sacrifice that another gave. Jesus...I don't think you can truly have sacrifice without love. Isn't that the ultimate when it comes to Love? Sacrifice. I am so thankful for my family because they sacrifice a lot for me to be in this program. Whether it be dealing with me being on the computer, to going maybe without something extra so we can fill a box of goodies...so if you don't understand why I do this please know it is because of Love. I Love my country. I Love those individuals that protect and serve my country. Just like Jesus when he sat by the well with the woman living in sin. He didn't pass judgement on her. He simply loved her. I can think of know greater love....Please read the essay that Cory has written about how a soldier touched his life. And as for me no matter what anyone else is saying or whispering, I will continue to be a cheerleader just like Cory, that is until they let me into the fight!
"Jonathan Roberge died in Iraq this past year in a roadside bombing. He was 23 years old, and a private in the United States Army. We had never met. And yet, this brave warrior had a huge impact on me. You see, he was my pen pal. A few years ago, I signed up for a program called Adopt-A-US-Soldier. Jonathan was the second pen pal that I had. I’ve always had tremendous respect and admiration for our troops, and I’ve always wanted to help them out in any way I could. When you send soldiers a letter or an email or a package, they know that they are in your heart, and that their incredible job is not going unnoticed.
As a young adult living in the United States, I am troubled that some of my peers do not share my concerns about the forces that threaten the safety of our nation. Perhaps they think that the War on Terror is a thing of the past, or perhaps they think that other needs are more compelling than our national security. In my opinion, these beliefs are foolhardy, and the importance of a strong military is paramount. As one of the mourners at Jonathan’s funeral said, “Kids are exactly the ones who need to understand, they have the freedom they enjoy because of people like Jonathan and everyone else who serves.” I hope that Jonathan, as well as all of the men and women who have died in the service, will always be remembered; and I also hope that all soldiers will have a support team – they deserve it.
Jonathan’s life – and untimely death – reinforced everything that I thought I knew about courage, service and sacrifice. Moreover, he helped me to understand that the most valuable things in life are our relationships with friends and family. Ironically, Jonathan was killed just days before I visited Texas A&M. My parents were the ones who got the news, but they decided not to tell me until after I finished my tour of the school. I know now that they wanted me to have my college experience with an open mind and a clear heart. I have come to realize that parents shoulder these burdens because they put their children’s needs first, and they make difficult decisions out of love for their kids. As my mom was accompanying me on this important journey, Jonathan’s mom was burying her son. The Roberge family will not get a chance to celebrate Jonathan’s future education, career, marriage or grandchildren. But they will have treasured memories of a wonderful, fun-loving, kind-hearted man who wanted to follow his dream of serving our country.
When Jonathan died, I had a package on the kitchen table waiting to be sent to Jonathan and his unit. It was just some chips, candy and magazines – an assortment of items that most of us purchase any day of the week at the grocery store, but items that our troops cannot easily access in the desert of Iraq. After consulting with my advisor at Adopt-A-US-Soldier, I forwarded the package to Jonathan’s family with my note of condolence. The family, in turn, sent the package to the men in Jonathan’s unit who, undoubtedly, grieve Jonathan’s passing.
When I first found out that Jonathan had been killed, I was stunned. I know it sounds silly, but it had never really occurred to me that out of the small handful of soldiers that I know, one of them would be killed in action. Shortly after I returned home from my visit to A&M, I went online and found a lot of articles written about Jonathan. I discovered that in his hometown, his friends, family, and neighbors were setting up various charities in his honor. I contacted one of them, and they told me how proud they were of me. That confused me – what had I done? They told me that servicemen and women really do appreciate the citizens who reach out to them. I thought about that for a while, and I came to a conclusion. Everyone has a role to play – some of us will be fighters, and the rest of us will cheer on the fighters and help them out as best we can. Jonathan and I were a team, in a way. He was the fighter, and I was part of his cheering section.
Adopt-A-US-Soldier asked me to write a paragraph or two about what it felt like to lose a soldier. When I sat down to put my thoughts on paper, I saw that beyond the overwhelming sadness at losing “my” soldier, the way I felt was simply lucky – lucky to have known Jonathan for a short while, and lucky to have supported him in his service on my behalf. Jonathan’s mom went from being a Blue Star Mom to being a Gold Star Mom. I cannot possibly imagine the overwhelming emptiness in her life. This, too, has taught me something about love and loss. Jonathan’s family sent me a bookmark and dogtag that were created to honor Jonathan’s memory. These mementos of his life and tragic passing remind me daily of the lessons that I learned from my friendship with PFC Roberge.
Jonathan’s quote in his high school yearbook was, “I live my life a quarter mile at a time – for those ten seconds, I’m free.” I think that what he meant was that he lived in the moment, loving his friends and family, and ready to do whatever might be necessary to further an important cause. Jonathan Roberge is an American hero, and certainly a hero to me.
