THE LAST POST
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning.
We will remember them.- From “For the Fallen” by Laurence Binyon
A MEMORY BOUQUET
At the end of each year, major media outlets run feature stories listing notables and celebrities that have passed away during the year; stories that recount highlights of the person’s life. I’m two weeks late – but there’s a reason. This year’s list was long. Really long. And special. These people really were notable, but weren’t celebrities. They were not widely known … except to their families.
THROUGH THE DARK RECESSES
Sometimes memories connect through space and time linked to your own remembrances of the person. Memories of what you were doing at a certain time in your life, at a certain place.
OF TIME
Special memories randomly emerge from the dark recesses of time. You feel heaviness, a sense of loss, not only for the “notable person” or “celebrity” that you probably never met, but also for yourself. For the loss of time.
That time.
Your time.
THE LIST
Well, here’s my feature story.
My list.
It’s a little bit longer than the major media outlets would publish. Names of real people like Adam, Alberto, Christopher, Kevin, James, Jessica, Jose, Jonathan, Cwislyn, David, Timothy, Schuyler, Simone, Daniel, Raphael, Florence, Nelson, Stephen, Israel, Lance, Raul, Tyler, Omar, Christian, Esau, Rosyln …
THE LOVED AND LOST
… and on … and on … and horribly on.
Fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, wives, husbands, cousins, nephews, nieces, all.
NOT BY ACCIDENT
They passed on not by accident, not by bodily deterioration brought on by the mean ravages of time, but because they had a special job.
A job that ended a too-brief sojourn on this blue-green magical wonder called earth.
A job they chose.
SO COSTLY A SACRIFICE
They were American soldiers.
A step ahead.
A step behind.
A look left, instead of right.
Right, instead of left.
Up instead of down.
Down instead of up.
A blink of the eye at the wrong time.
And … it was over.
WHAT IS LIFE?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
- Crowfoot, Native American Blackfoot warrior and orator
The fleeting flash of a firefly in the night … gone.
But not.
THEIR EFFULGENT LIGHT …
… echoes eternally throughout the music of the spheres like heavenly bagpipes playing Amazing Grace … across the unfathomable unknowable on their way to The Last Post.
WHO WERE THESE FIREFLIES IN THE NIGHT?
Who were these shadows that ran across the grass riding a Sonata of Moonlight on an Ode to Joy – to living, giving and life?
WHO WERE THESE FIREFLIES IN THE NIGHT?
Who were these shadows that ran across the grass into the arms of an …
ANGEL
On the way to their …
LAST POST
Look.
BECAUSE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN … WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THEM
Go.
Look.
Honor the Fallen
(or … http://www.militarytimes.com/valor/list.php?yr=2009&mo=1)
Steve Kayser is a seasoned Media Relations Director and an award-winning business writer. His unique (some say bizarre) approach to PR, Marketing and Media Relations has been documented in a marketing best practices case study by MarketingSherpa, profiled as a “Purple Cow,” by author Seth Godin, and featured in the best-selling books, The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott and "Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs" by Craig Stull, Phil Myers, and David Meerman Scott.
Steve has also been featured in the following publications: A Marketer’s Guide to e-Newsletter Publishing, Credibility Branding, Innovation Quarterly, B2B Marketing Trends, PRWEEK, Faces of E-Content, and The Ragan Report. Steve's writings have appeared in Corporate Finance Magazine, CEO Refresher, Entrepreneur Magazine, Business 2.0, and Fast Company Magazine – among many others.. Google+
Steve, thank you so much for honoring these heros who made the ultimate sacrifice. I encourage everyone to support charaties that help the familes and children of these fallen heros. It's the least we can do.
May god bless them all.
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LikeSteve -
Thank you for writing such an exceptional tribute. I'll share this with others.
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LikeThank you for taking the time to read and comment. Greatly appreciated! Nice to meet you.
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LikeI have read through this amazing tribute, Steve, and as do the others who have commented, salute you for this unique public service. Perhaps it will bring home to some that the statistics are shorthand for human tragedies. As a former Marine, let me say, Sir, Semper Fidelis! woody
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LikeSteve,
You do their remembrance excellently in this post, it is a wonderful tribute to these, America’s best and brightest, and so worthy of being remembered and honored.
Having had many military officers in the courses I have taught over the years, I can tell you there is an exceptional professionalism, dedication to learning and character each has. Just by their demeanor and focus on learning they can elevate an entire class.
I’ve seen them on their missions to learn and grow, and excel in their careers and lives. I have seen how they serve with such love of their families, such dedication to the battalions, companies and squads they lead in the armed forces. It isn’t about glory; it is all about service. It permeates all they do.
What a great tribute to these exceptional men and women, so selfless in their sacrifice, so stoic in their challenges, fear and uncertainty. They truly are the best and brightest and deserved to be remembered daily and thanked for their sacrifice.
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LikeThanks. Very well done and I appreciate it.
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LikeThank you so very, very much for honoring our fallen, but not forgotten heroes in this way!
I am in tears after reading your words, watching the videos and then looking at each and every face and name.
You have helped to ensure that They Shall Not Be Forgotten!!
God Bless you for taking the time (I know it was a great deal) to put this post together!
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LikeSteve,
Thank you for writing this. And for remembering.
With highest regard,
Bryan Schaap
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