|
The “Marc” of War
Nineteen years, it’s been nineteen years since my son Navy SEAL Marc Lee walked this earth.
Nineteen years since his humor has brought smiles and laughter to those around him. Nineteen years since we’ve heard his voice. Nineteen years since we’ve felt his embrace. Nineteen years since we’ve heard his wisdom. Nineteen years since we’ve read his words that would encourage, challenge, motivate and touch our hearts and spirits. Nineteen years of tears from a mom’s heart who has experienced the toughest grief anyone could know and deeply misses him.
How? How can it be nineteen years, it seems impossible.
That is the mark that war leaves. That mark is felt by Marc’s family, teammates and friends. It is felt by those that have heard Marc’s heroic story over the nineteen years that have been shared by me, his teammates, in movies, documentaries, books, podcasts, churches, and numerous untold places. The mark of war is very costly. Only those who were there on Aug 2nd or close family and friends of Marc, understand and experience daily the intensity and depth of that pain and loss. Others who have heard the stories can imagine what it must feel like, but they will never really know or understand, but sharing the stories gives them a glimpse into this brave warrior and so many others who gave their final breath to defend us and allow us to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy every day.
The mark of war is costly, not just for those who gave their final breath, but for those who served in the fields of combat and came home. The time they sacrificed away from their families, missing their own child’s birth, not being able to be at a loved one’s bedside as they take their final breath, missed birthdays, recitals, and sporting events. Time that you don’t go back and recoup. The bodies of our warriors who suffer physically, mentally and emotionally come back carrying the injuries they sustained for us. We must never forget and must help restore their health to them as close to who they were before they deployed.
As I reflect on that deep mark of war, I smile as I reflect on a different “Marc” of war. For nineteen years Marc’s humor continues to bring laughter and smiles when the memories are shared. That’s the “Marc” of war.
For nineteen years we have heard his voice every day. We hear those words not just in our memories, we hear him when he is portrayed in a movie, we hear him when we are struggling and feel like something is too hard and his voice reminds us to persevere and finish strong just like he did. We hear him tease us when we do something stupid or congratulate us when we are successful. That’s the “Marc” of war.
For nineteen years people have felt Marc’s embrace when they receive a Random Act of Kindness inspired in Marc’s last letter home. When we buy “a random strangers cup of coffee, meal or tank of gas,” they feel Marc’s embrace. When we help pay funeral expenses for a veteran who took his life and provide comfort to the family who doesn’t know how they will carry on. They feel Marc’s embrace. When we provide funds when the destruction of fire impacts a family. They feel Marc’s embrace. When a veteran or their child is fighting cancer to survive and we help them financially to help lift a burden, they feel Marc’s embrace. That’s the Marc of war.
For nineteen years people have been in awe of his wisdom as they hear the stories and read his last letter home, we hear Marc’s wisdom. When we reflect on how Marc lived his life and sacrificially gave his life to save his teammates, we are reminded of his selfless character and wisdom. When we read or remember how he ends his last letter home, “to my family and friends do me a favor, pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life,” we hear Marc’s wisdom. That is the “Marc” of war.
For nineteen years people have read Marc’s amazing last letter home. It has brought tears to many as they read it and feel the depth of his emotions, care and love. It has saved the life of many veterans who were ready to give up and take their life. One veteran shared he had the tarp laid out in the garage and the gun to his head when he was reminded of Marc and that letter and he knew Marc never gave up and wouldn’t want him to. It has impacted, encouraged, motivated, and challenged millions of people around the world. He continues to touch our hearts and spirits! That is the “Marc” of war.
For nineteen years I’ve learned ways to cope with and manage grief. I’ve learned to accept that it is normal nineteen years later to still cry sometimes when I hear a song, watch a movie, have a memory, visit his grave, or host another holiday or family dinner without him. Yet this mother has also learned to celebrate his life, to laugh, to live, to make my “Marc.” That’s what he would want me to do. I’ve trusted God to give me the strength every moment to finish strong. I am so proud of Marc and I know where he is. He was re-deployed to heaven and when God calls me home, I know Marc will be waiting at the gate to welcome me to my forever home.
For nineteen years we’ve seen that while Marc may not physically be here, he is still changing this world in such a crazy way!!!
On this nineteenth year anniversary we remember, we reflect, we celebrate, and we probably will shed a tear or two as we remember the larger-than-life personality and character that Marc was and how he impacted all of our lives in different ways.
If you want to honor and remember Marc please donate so we can continue our mission strong. Help us to support our Gold Star families, our active duty, our veterans struggling with PTS, TBI and many who are suicidal and our military families in crisis through Random Acts of Kindness.
Whether you can give $.19, $19.00, $119.00, $219.00, $1919.00, $19,000, or $119,000, our military families need your help. Marc gave his final breath for you, please give what you can.
Marc, my son, my mighty warrior you loved so deeply, and you are deeply loved and missed by so many. I am so proud of you!
DONATE NOW
| 
