Children of Fallen Patriots Day 2022

I typically pride myself in my level of stoicism. I can typically rein in my emotions and keep from devolving into a blithering idiot until I find myself alone in most instances.

The first time I saw this photograph all bets were off. There are a couple of shots in the series from two perspectives ...
 

I think I've boo-hooed over this scene more times than I can count. Typically on memorial days or considering my late biological and step fathers. It instills a sadness that permeates the entirety of my being.

It is a photograph of a child next to his mother accepting the flag which draped the casket of his military father, obviously fallen.

That I could reach out and comfort this child would have made the scene less traumatic for me personally. This type of situation exposes one of the few soft spots in me as far as I know.

May 13th is Children of Fallen Patriots Day.

The vast numbers of children who have lost parents to military conflict is at once both tragic and infuriating.

Children of Fallen Patriots Day exists to honor these children and raise awareness of the sacrifices and struggles they have and do endure in the wake of their parents death.

These children had no choice in the matter for which they suffer a tremendous loss — and my heart goes out to them.