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Today’s Blog Post
A Deeply Emotional Day – standing with my grandkids
I was standing beside my grandsons and my granddaughter at a special memorial service and presentation at our Armory in Peterborough. We were part of a large crowd that had gathered to see the unveiling of the War of Portraits on the huge transport trailer.
It is hard to describe what this is all about really.
On the first weekend in December of 2008 the McClaren family moved in two doors down from us. They were very excited about their new home and the community. That same weekend they received the horrific news that their 23 year son Mark had been killed in the war in Afghanistan. For days we watched the coming and going of the military vehicles that had brought the top soldiers to help this family walk through the process of the loss of their son overseas.
Mark McClaren’s portrait is on this Wall of Portraits, in the middle, just below the beautiful young lady who is just below the white dove.
I do not have the words to tell you what it was like to stand in front of that long mural of portraits… and look into their eyes. It was as if they were waiting for me to say something. I choked up big time… and cried. I wanted to say thank you to these men and one woman that have lost their lives in this conflict – trying to bring about peace and stability in a very terrible part of the world.
As Alida and I gave our friend and neighbor a big hug… there weren’t enough words to say again how deeply we were moved by what was happening yesterday.
Three of my grandsons, Jonathan, Thomas, and Christopher – along with Emma our granddaughter were standing beside me as we looked on. They listened closely to the words spoken and also asked some questions when certain things were talked about.
I glanced at them over and over again as the afternoon went on. Mark McClaren was only 8 years older than Jonathan and 10 years older than Thomas. They are standing beside me now… but Mark will never come home again.
I wiped more tears back again… and realized how special our neighbors are in our life.
Not long ago I took part in this special part of yesterday’s celebration – in a small way. Mark’s dad asked me to carve a special gift for the artist that had done the painting. I carved the dove that he had painted on the top of the Portrait. The families of the fallen soldiers gave the carving to the artist to say thank you for what he has done for them.
I am not able to really tell you how I feel. It is a great honor to be part of something this special.
I pray today for the families of the soldiers that are over there now and soon to come home. I specially pray for the families that have lost their kids and then live on without them.
Oh God help them all.
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
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