Touching Tribute to the Soldiers We May Forget

You've been touched by the scene before. And why wouldn't you be?

Those magic, super-sensational moments when the wife, child or mother discovers the surprise truth: Johnny has come marching home again ... hurrah, hurrah!

Normally on TV commercials or news clips designed to uplift and overwhelm, we see the scene of the marine or soldier sneaking up on the unsuspecting relative. At some point, the relative recognizes the home-safe soldier and the instant response is unbridled joy and glee. Hugs and tears are the final result.

Such a scene. How could we not be moved?

May we never forget those soldiers who are out on the front line, sent into incredible danger and death, with hardly a hope to recover from the trauma they face, if they return at all.

If they return at all.

Such glee and joy may be a welcome site to Mr. and Mrs TV Watcher in the living room of warmth. And perhaps it may sell a few products to malleable minds ready to be bent and molded into whatever form the marketing agency desires. But it doesn't allow for another scene that happens much too often, but one never portrayed on our collective TV screens.

For there are some in the shadows, hidden from view, who have been touched by another type of scene before. And why wouldn't they be touched?

Sitting in a living room, or in a kitchen ... completely unsuspecting. A knock on the door. The door opens and a couple of representative from the armed forces stand there with solemn look. The news is obvious and hits the family member in an instant, as she crumples to the ground in shock. Screeches of agony echo throughout the house, where children stop their playing in rooms upstairs. They come rushing down the stairs to see what's the matter and are faced with a shell-shocked mother staring stoic into the distance. The recovery may never happen in their lives.

Such a scene ... not once revealed in TV commercials or news clips.

Such a scene ... may we never forget.

Such a scene ... How could we not be moved?


James Anthony Ellis is a writer and producer living in Lemon Grove, CA. He has never been to war and has never had a loved one away in the armed forces. He can be reached at LegacyProductions.org.