Once again the military community has not only lost one of its own, but we are also dealing with the injury to several more service members. You don’t have to personally know any of those involved to feel a deep sense of sadness because so many lives have been changed forever.
The most dreaded action playing on the minds of everyone who has a loved one on a tour is to receive notice of an injury or death. It’s something we all live with every day. And whether we receive ‘that’ telephone call or ‘that’ knock at the door or not, we are all affected when tragedy strikes.
Many express such a mixture of emotions: intense relief that it’s not my husband, my son but also guilt because you are lucky and someone else’s wife and mother isn’t. That is then often followed with such a sense of helplessness and the question ‘Where will it all end?’ is uppermost in everyone’s minds.
So many who do not have an understanding of why our men and women become part of Canada’s military often say “Well, it’s their job!” or to the wives: “You knew that when you married him!” Those of us in this challenging lifestyle have heard these two comments so many times that it’s unbelievably painful to have to deal with a response.
No one knowingly takes on a job knowing that there is a strong certainty that they will die and/or become seriously injured. But those who join the military take on a job to protect our country by whatever means our leaders determine is necessary. That they might die or become injured is a ‘given’ but you always hope that your training and the support of your peers will keep you out of harm’s way.
There is no other occupation that demands so much of our men and women in uniform or of their families. Knowing the possible perils of living this lifestyle is a must for every man and woman who becomes part of the military community, but to have it put so bluntly as if dismissing the deaths and injuries that do happen as something to be blamed away because we were ‘crazy’ enough to get involved in this lifestyle in the first place just doesn’t sit well with any of us.
You marry the man and you take on the lifestyle. You join the forces to make a difference not only in your life but also in the lives of every Canadian. You don’t join/marry accepting that death or injury will become a part of the ‘package’. But you are keenly aware of the possibility.
Take the time to let our deeply dedicated soldiers and their families know that even if you don’t fully understand why we do what we do, that you support us not only in our time of grief and sadness but in what we live with every single day.
There are no prouder Canadians than those who serve our country as part of Canada’s military. As a recruit slogan says – “Be all that you can be.” and they certainly are.