The Path of the Warrior

Memorial Day means different things to different people. For many, it is the start of the summer season, an annual trip to the beach, a 3-day weekend, or a great excuse for a barbeque. In my family, it meant more.

I grew up in a military family. My father and grandfathers served. Every couple of years we would move to a new base and start the process of finding new friends and sometimes finding old ones from earlier postings.

I was 8 years old when my father went to serve in Vietnam. I was too young to understand the politics at the time, but I remember being angry at people I saw on television saying that soldiers in Vietnam were bad people. MY Dad wasn't. I remember being afraid when I saw the green military sedan driving past and we would stop playing and watch to see if it was going to someones house the green sedan stopping meant somebody's father was dead or hurt. I remember not knowing what to say to a friend that had lost his father and feeling guilty because I was so happy it wasn't my Dad.

I have long wanted to do something to honor, not only my father and all those that have served their country in the military, but also the families that stay behind and wait. This video, The Path of the Warrior, is a small token of my respect and gratitude. I hope you will forward this letter, or at least the video link, to all those you know who either serve in the armed forces or wait behind.

What will I do this Memorial Day? I have not been to a parade since my children were little. In truth, I will probably be working on one of the Humanity Healing's projects and it is a good excuse for a barbeque; but at some point during the day, I will send a prayer of protection to those currently serving and their families, I will say a Blessing to those who did not return and a pray of comfort to their families, and I know that the fears of my eight year-old self will well up from the part of my soul they are hidden and I will say a prayer of gratitude that my Dad was one of those who did return.

Much Metta,
Christopher Buck
President
Humanity Healing Foundation

©2009 Humanity Healing. Partial Rights Reserved.

Music 1: Daniel Kobialka, Celtic Medley
Music 2: Enya, Fallen Embers

Images: Life, www.life.com
Images: Google/Photobucket
We honor the unknown artists

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Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Humanity Healing
• Memorial Day
• warrior
• armed forces
• army
• navy
• air force
• marine
• sacrifice
• duty
• honor
• country
• peace

[ploopyslop]

I recently went to Washington DC to see the Wall of heroes, I looked for hours finding one name, i found it but my heart sank that what my step father said was true, my dad had died in the Vietnam War, i know you fought with your heart and valor dad, your in a better place now.

R.I.P John Baladeer

[Humanityhealing]

@ploopyslop Our Blessing and Gratitude to your father, and our prayer to you for comfort and peace.

Much Metta,

HH Team

[crawltoWALK]

i was disappointed to see that your idea ~at least here~ of a Warrior is someone who kills others to help "win" a war.

seriously???!!!

there are SOOO many other non-violent warriors i've witnessed in this world.

i found this odd.

[Humanityhealing]

@crawltoWALK You are correct - there are many kinds of warriors in this world. Anyone willing to put their life on the line for their beliefs is a warrior. Please keep in mind that this particular video was created as a Memorial Day tribute to honor those that lost our lives in defense of others.

[MidnighWolf]

'Never before in the history of Human conflict, has so much been owed by so many, to so few.'

[DRISHANA1]

@rcticfox1 the singer is Enya - unmistakable sound - don't know the song title...

[rcticfox1]

Beautiful, thank you. Who was the singer?

[TheManicKid]

those who make peaseful revolution imposible will make vilont revoloution inevitable

[Sagitarius65]

Whaw,I have no words...verry beautifull put together...whaw thank you to all the Warriors

[123allrock]

While I deaply respect the sacrfice any soldier goes through in act of duty , I feel we must question and be very aware that the very act of war "blinds us" to our humanity and question the "Mechanism" of war at the root level , Many films like the Sci-fi fantasy Avatar atempt to show this "Mechanism' in all is primal detail yet like in the past we as a people fail to question our actions yet again , there will allways be cases where self defence is justified but "revenge" is bad virtue

[KrfNYC2]

@sonrouge I think that to lay down your life for something that you believe in is admirable, but not awlays for the greater good. To peacefully accept death for a noble cause is beautiful, but to risk your life in attempts to kill others and propegate more violence is something that I imagine to be detramental. So yes, war can quickly end tyranny and suppresion, but it is also the reason why tyranny and opression continue to require defeating. This is my humble belief. Peace and God bless.

[diddykongfu]

@crawltoWALK complete idiot its in human nature to destroy eachother, are you saying that if someone burst into your comfortable home and threatned your family and loved ones you would stand there and do nothing war and violence is human nature this coming from a proud atheist and supporter of are troops out there right now notice how i said troops and not war

[darkdaysification]

@ploopyslop From the bottom of my heart thank you

[darkdaysification]

Wow I am humbled by this what a wonderful tribute