In my area, these past few days have not been good. I am in a military family and we live on post. You hear bad things all the time, but recent events have hit closer to home.

Yesterday, 2 deaths of people from the area occured. One was a student that I knew. She was up in Michigan and got hit in a car accident. I don't know the exact turn of events, but she didn't make it through the night. The news quickly traveled from Michigan down to Texas. The next morning tons of people were crying and memorial services by the school had been started. She was in ROTC. We flew our flags at half staff in her honor, her family recieves those, and her full uniform. They requested that, she was a dedicated cadet and they wished for her to be buried with it. Today, inspection day, was hard. The whole batalion wore black ribbons, and most of the older cadets were crying, or in counseling.

Another loss is one of my neighbors. He had been deployed. And things happen in Iraq. This one didn't turn out too well. The guy had been shot, close-ranged, in his head. He was the father of one of my friends. I think we actually heard the news before she did. She was with her grandmother. It's been the closest death I've had.

This has been a little bit hard on me. Not only because I knew the people, but because my friends are hurting too. I'm just trying to comfort them in anyway I can. Sometimes just being there can help. Anyways, this isn't for me. Somewhat of a memorial for those that have passed on. I'm not a religious person, but God bless those left behind and those that have gone on.

*hugs*