15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Tears for Those Who Paid the Ultimate Sacrifice

Today at Fort Campbell it's rained off and on. The sun has proven itself, and it's hidden itself. Tomorrow it'll rain off and on. The sun will prove itself, and it will hide itself. But according to the forecast, Monday the sun will shine. On Memorial Day, we will see the sun's grace. I feel as though this is the way grief works. A grieving friend recently told me that the struggles to come following the death of a loved one are like sky lights in a tunnel. There are days when the tunnels are filled with darkness, and you don't know when you will be able to see again. But soon enough you reach a sky light. A crack in the tunnel allows you to see. And as time goes on, the cracks widen, the light shines more often, the tunnel weakens. You are always chasing the sky lights. I feel as though Memorial Day should be a sky light. Through the suffering of the loss of a loved one who fought the good fight, we should be reminded that our service members died selflessly, cloaked in strength and bravery. Our service members, one by one, step by step, have helped this country and all of the citizens residing in it live in safety. Above knowing the terrifying possibilities of what their job would entail, they chose to push through because of their passion for their country. God bless every family struggling this weekend. As my friend once said, chase the skylights.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2017
Date Uploaded: 05.2017
Photo Location: Cunningham, Tennessee, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Copyright: © Alex Sumner