As I watched King Théoden (The Lord of the Rings) giving honor to the fallen fighters of his kingdom, I can’t help but reflect to our own fallen soldiers. I wonder if we have actually given them the honor and recognition they deserve for their sacrifices. I wonder, if we realize that most of them may have been like Sam and Frodo – their simple and peaceful lives were put in tremendous danger from the evil eye of the Dark Lord Sauron, eventually causing them to fall like Gandalf, the Grey. I wonder, if we can feel the same agony that the Lady Arwen was going through while waiting for the safe return of her beloved Aragorn. I wonder if we, the beloved ones being protected, left behind in the safety of our naivety and the innocence of the Shire really knew the last words uttered by the lips of the fallen brave ones, like Boromir? I wonder…

Politics is way out of my league in my thinking process. I try to avoid listening to the news to escape from what is really happening to this beautiful country… to Frodo’s beloved Shire. The only thing I can do is to relate it with something I’ve read in the books or watched in a movie. Like Tree Beard, I want to believe that the green lush of the forest will continue to flourish. But in my psyche, can I really avoid the malice and vindictive forces of the Dark Lord Sauron and the power hungry Saruman? Am I sensing my own dangerous denial mode? Their combined powers reinforced through the blood thirsty Orcs are ready to destroy everything in sight to restore the Ring of Power.

I wish things were different…Tibet was a peaceful place, a sanctuary for monks who did not wish to participate in any violent act. I wonder why they became victims of hatred and atrocities? Could it be that we all wish that all people believe or think the same way we do? What would be the use of our birthright to make choices, to choose what to think, how to act? Lord in Heaven, help my simple brain!!

 Aragorn, made the choice to claim his birthright as heir to the throne of Gondor. So he fought to obtain his birthright. Sam and Frodo, after all the dangers and nerve-raking confrontations with the Orcs, of losing the Ring of Power to Gollum, finally went back home to the Shire. Their disappearance seemingly unnoticed by the villagers; some had somewhat a smirk on their face as Frodo and Sam passed them by. I hope, today, even for just one day, we’d give honor to all the Aragorns, the Frodos and the Sams, of our country, of our time.

Today, I honor all the service men and women who gave their lives for the safety of my family and me. I give honor to the families of those who sacrificed their lives in place far away from their loved ones, who answered their duty to our country.

Hail the victorious dead! Hail to all the courageous brave ones!