12 years ago, Allison Spann timidly walked along the immaculate grounds of the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, filled with trepidation and uncertainty. She didn't understand it then, but she was the first American child to loose a parent to the Afghanistan War. Looking down at him, she couldn't see the significance his death held for the country, she could only think of her own anguish at the loss of her protecter; her father Johnny Micheal Spann. Today as she walks along that same path, older and wiser, so much has changed, yet so much remains the same. She is no longer that fearful child, but a mature college senior with grace, ambition and a fervor for life. As she looks down with pride at her father's resting place, she can't help the feelings of bitter sweet melancholy that encompass this pride. Memories come rushing back, filtering through her mind, each one inspiring an acute pain. She chooses to remember the good times, however, blissful afternoons playing games, life lessons and advice that have sense molded her life. She is one of the lucky ones. Having risen above her loss with a tenacious spirit and a firm belief in her father's legacy. As the war that began over a decade rages on, we are reminded of the lingering wounds that can never be forgotten and the children who suffer not only on the battlefield, but at home as well. Allison was not the first to loose a parent to war, nor will she be the last, yet her story engenders an empathy within; being the first victim of the war that defined our generation.
Seeing Allison's ability to overcome her shortcomings with an incredible resilience is so inspiring and heart warming. In today's world, so much emphasis is placed on violence and what's happening now, we forget about the aftermath. Allison didn't forget, and it's refreshing to see a story that celebrates her struggle and remembers her father's brave sacrifice. As touching as her story is, it shows the depth of the wound that each individual faces in the destructive path of war and serves as an ominous reminder of the endurance of this particular war. At her father's death, Allison was a little girl; she is now an adult and children just like she was are loosing parents over the same issues that haunted her childhood. It's strange to see how far we have come, yet how far we still must go. She has made peace with her father's passing, but how long will it take for our country to find peace?
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/08/us/alison-spann-daughter-of-war/index.html?hpt=us_c1
Sometimes, the strongest courage is seen in those who are able to withstand and overcome traumatizing losses and experiences such as the one experienced by Allison. I certainly agree that we must be reminded of not only the sacrifices the men and women make in the armed services, but the sacrifices their families and loved ones make as well.
ReplyDeleteFelicia Padilla 5th period: This story is both sad and inspiring. I cannot imagine what it must be like to lose a parent at such a young age, especially when you don't understand how honorably they died. The hardest part of losing someone is knowing that they will never come back and even though they might have died doing what they loved it is still a hard pill to swallow.
ReplyDeleteFelicia Padilla 5th period: This story is both sad and inspiring. I cannot imagine what it must be like to lose a parent at such a young age, especially when you don't understand how honorably they died. The hardest part of losing someone is knowing that they will never come back and even though they might have died doing what they loved it is still a hard pill to swallow.
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