Together We Will Move Forward

Canadians were being asked to rally round their military after CFB Trenton Commander Russ Williams was arrested on February 7th.  The full scoop on that can be found here at Assoluta Tranquillita CFB Trenton Military Appreciation Day.

A Canadian military wife, Angela MacIsaac felt the need to speak out and sent the following to me......

 

Together We Will Move Forward

 

By Angela MacIsaac

 

Two weeks ago a chill came over my body as I heard the announcement that our Base Commander was accused of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Up until that announcement, like everyone else in the Country, I was praying that Jessica Lloyd would safely return to her family’s arms.

In complete “shock” would be a word to describe how I felt. As a mother myself, the wind felt knocked out me, I couldn’t even imagine what the families were going through, my heart went out to them. All the hope and prayers that she was coming home ended in an aerial picture of where she was found.

These brutal acts, this taking of such beautiful lives was horrific in itself. Learning the identity of the accused, myself being a military spouse, deepened the devastation.  First and foremost the families and friends of each woman involved, the two women that were left to continue on, and the spouse of the accused were in my prayers.
 

Another thought after the shock had subsided was where the media would take this. We all know the media can influence a public, good or bad. And as soon as I heard that first reporter ask,  “How do you think this will affect the support of our Canadian troops?” it all began.

It is very easy to take anger, hurt, disappoint and fear out if given a direction and/or outlet. The media gave a target for a story to begin and in times where we all vulnerable as we all feel, they took advantage of all of our emotions.
 

There should not be any finger pointing concerning military, or the police. Stereotyping, excuses, and shame included. The only finger to point is to the accused sitting in the Quinte Detention Centre. No one else should be responsible for his actions. This is about the taking of beautiful lives and the sexual assaults of two women who will forever be traumatized, and never forget. It is about their families and friends and supporting them.
 

Take the “military” out of the “military” and you will find human beings, the same as you and I, and as human beings and not “the military”, care about all the families involved, are hurting as well, including those who worked with the accused. Do not let the media separate the military and the public, more rather we are a “community”, which needs to heal together, be there for each other, and the only “strain” as the media puts it, comes from their own doing.
 

As an example, I sat with a WW2 Veteran a few days ago who whispered “This isn’t good times for us”; I sat forward and asked him “Why are we whispering?” This man felt shame for himself because of somebody else’s actions. As a man that I respect very dearly for all that he did, I don’t think it fair for him to believe that he has to take responsibility. I told him to stand proud as he should, and as we talked more, his deep concern for the families touched me and I told him that that was where his heart should be and not ashamed.
 

There was, in general, a “fear” for all of us associated with the military. Fear to a point of not wanting to wear uniforms, fear that we would be hated. And to put it bluntly, it really is a really horrible feeling to think you can’t be a part of community that hurts just as much as you do. Watching all this and feeling the fear, one just wonders how something such as the media, for the sake of a story, could make everyone involved so expendable?  So many lives involved, but they got their ratings as they attempted to ruin a trust and a bond between us.
 

I say attempted, as I attended the rally in support of our troops at 8 Wing Trenton. I was very hesitant to go as “fear” held me back. I knew it would break my heart to see potential protesters etc, it would hurt to not see all as one. Instead of hurt, I was almost tearful in seeing all the signs as over 1000 people came out. Children with signs saying, “We love our Military”, others reading, “We love you Jessica and Marie-France”, and “Don’t paint everyone with the same brush”.
 
There was one that hit home for me that said, “ We will never forget you Jessica”, and on the flip side, “We support our troops”. I watched a sea of red parade with Veterans who led with Colour Parties up the Highway of Heroes and join our new Base Commander, Col. Dave Cochrane, his wife and countless other CF members on the stairs of the administration building. Some of the soldiers, and myself included, had tears in their eyes… That “fear” was gone.

 
The only influence we need as a community, whether it is here in Trenton or a country as a whole is support. Knowing we stand together and are there for each other in a time such as this, we will never forget but it will let us heal. That being said, as one we will move forward.

Comments

[brat]

Thank you, Angela, and thank YOU, WOTN for sharing this with us. I will be posting and linking.......:)

[Bill Thompson]

good on you Ange...You're vocalizing what the majority of Canadians are thinking..