ASHTON

I WAS EXTREMELY MOVED BY AN ACTICLE I READ IN O MAGAZINE AFEW DAYS AGO. SO MOVED THAT I EMAILED THE AUTHOR TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS.
MELISSA PRITCHARD HAD WRITTEN ABOUT A YOUNG SOLDIER ASHTON; A 21 YEAR OLD GIRL SERVING IN AFGANASTAN. ASHTON WAS BROUGHT TO LIFE AND I FELT LIKE I KNEW HER LIKE ONE OF MY KIDS FRIENDS; I CONTINUED TO READ ABOUT HER WITH TEARS FLOWING FREELY, KNOWING THAT EVEN BEFORE I READ THE WORDS THAT THIS BEAUTIFUL, PLAYFUL YOUNG WOMAN WAS NOW DEAD. I HAD ATTATCHED EMOTIONS TO HER AS I HAD READ ABOUT HER, HER PICTURES REMINDED ME OF BOTH MY OWN DAUGHTERS WHO ARE NOT MUCH OLDER THAT SHE WAS. I WONDERED HOW HER FAMILY IS COPING WITH HER DEATH AND HOW ALL MILITARY FAMILY'S HAVE THE STRENGTH TO STAND BY WHILE THEIR LOVED ONES GO ABOARD TO FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM OF OTHERS.I WONDERED IF THAT FIGHT IS A GOOD ONE;IF PEOPLE IN THESE COUNTRIES APPRECIATE THE SACRFICE; IF THIS YOUNG LADIES DEATH MEANS ANY THING AT ALL.
I HOPE SO. I HOPE THAT THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF OUR YOUNG AND BRAVE STANDS FOR SOME THING. I DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF KNOWING WHERE OTHERS STAND, BUT FOR ME I HAVE DECIDED IN HONOR OF THIS WARRIOR, THIS YOUNG GIRL ASHTON, THAT I WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AROUND ME AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT I HAVE; IN A COUNTRY THAT WE TAKE OUR FREEDOM FOR GRANTED, I GIVE HEARTFELT THANKS! TO ALL OF THOSE BRAVE SOULS LOST AND THEIR FAMILIES LEFT BEHIND I SAY THANK YOU EVEN THOUGH WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE OR MY SORROW THAT IT TAKES DEATH TO BRING ABOUT PEACE.
SO TODAY I CHOOSE NOT TO DWELL ON WHETHER I HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE FOR A LATTE, OR ANY OTHER NON THING, TODAY ON EARTH DAY I CHOOSE TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE PEACE AND FREEDOMS I HAVE AND I WILL SEND A PRAIR TO THE HEAVENS ABOVE THAT HOLD ONTO THE SOULS OF THE FALLEN.
THANK YOU ASHTON.