By the Grace of God: Chapter 15

Honour military veterans, both living and dead, by talking of them, sharing their stories and letting people know the sacrifices they made while serving their country

She went a long way towards healing her heart tonight, but she will need more support. How are you doing, Chappy?

I’m okay, believe it or not. I never thought I’d ever touch her again, it was as wonderful as ever. My heart is lighter knowing her relationship with her husband will be better from here. Thank you, Sarah.

You’re welcome, love. It was my pleasure.

A sudden desire to remind the world to remember those we have lost came over me. I took a moment to post to social media, finding a picture of my Great-Uncle Lester in his Army uniform to add to it. He was a career military man, dedicating his life to the US Army, and proud of his service to his country. It was my honour to show him off to the world.

My Uncle Lester was in the Korean War. He got stationed around the US. Aunt Hattie and the kids moved with him. He retired when I was young. I remember listening to his stories, and Mom yelling at him to remember how old his audience was.

I sat back in my chair to read what I wrote through before posting it.

Remember your loved ones as you celebrate Family Day this weekend.

Cherish your memories of lost family members as you make new memories for the years ahead.

Remember your loved ones who lost their lives in the defence of our country and freedoms. Honour them and their sacrifices by talking of them, sharing their stories and letting people know what they did for us.

To remember those who serve in the military, forgoing family time and sometimes their own lives for their country, is to repay them for their sacrifices. If we forget them, we diminish their contributions and sacrifices. To forget those who served our country, who died for our country, is to disrespect them and no way to pay homage to them. Love, honour, cherish those you love.

For my friends in the US, as a new friend reminded me, Semper Fi.

Loo and Chappy read it with me, nodding in agreement. They each placed their hands on my shoulders and gave me a slight squeeze as the post went live on social media.

You have a bigger connection to us veterans than you realize, love.

Loo’s words rang true. There was a spiritual connection to those serving in the military I couldn’t ignore. I can relate to them.

We are family, no matter how you see it, and we take care of our own.

Yes, yes we do, Loo. And I will be here for you no matter when you may need me next. No man left behind, remember?

My feet out in front of me, hands clasped behind my head, I arched my back and enjoyed the stretch. Loo and Chappy winked at each other before bending to give me a peck on each cheek. I couldn’t help but giggle. A touch from spirit is as soft as a feather’s tickle, as loving as a kiss and tingly like an electric shock all at once. Nothing compares to it.

The reactions and comments started coming in on my post. We three read them as they flashed up on the screen. Tears sprang to my eyes. I got the reactions I sought, and it was heartwarming.

Breathing a sigh of contentment, I sat and contemplated my evening. To speak with a complete stranger and deliver messages from her lover who died over forty years before fed my soul. There was a sense of indescribable satisfaction that comes with helping hurt souls find peace, both the living and the dead.

My notifications dinged on my phone. It was my social media account, someone sent me a friend request. They put a heart emoji on my post, too.

Look, Chappy, Debbie just friended me. You must come back and visit when she calls me, eh?

Okay, it’s a date. I love that she has freed herself from the guilt and put the regret aside. She needs to live the life she has, my death should teach everyone that.

As we sat talking, my now quiet phone recharging on the desk in front of me, a bright spot of white light appeared. It eclipsed the window, as it grew into a man-sized portal to the other side. The white light shimmered and I could see blue, purple and yellow in its depths. A sense of love emanated from it and I saw people waiting for Chappy and Loo to join them.

With a nod, I brought their attention to their waiting family and friends.

Looks as if your presence is being requested, gentlemen.

Chappy’s eyes widened and Loo smiled.

Will you look at that, Chappy? They want your sorry ass to cross over to the other side.

Chappy laughed. It was the first carefree laugh from him all night. He punched Loo in the shoulder.

You’ve been there and they still want you back. They don’t know either of us very well, do they?

Shaking my head, I laughed at them.

You two are worse than my kids.

Turning back to me, smiles on their faces, they bowed in unison. Loo spoke for both of them, Chappy nodding in agreement at his side. Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized I wasn’t the same person I was when we started talking earlier.

Sarah, thank you. Thank you for your patience, understanding and loving acceptance. It has been a pleasure speaking with you and sharing our stories. Nothing warms an old jarhead’s heart more than someone sitting and listening to them jaw-0n about their time in the Corps.

It is I who should thank you, Lieutenant. You and the Corporal here have been entertaining companions. I only wish we could have met in life, we would have had fun together.

I gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek, knowing I was better for having met them both. With a sharp salute and a smile, I said my official goodbyes, not bothering to wipe away the tears.

Lieutenant Jeremy Walters, Corporal Reginald Chapman, it has been my pleasure to meet and get acquainted with you both. I hope you find peace in your death that eluded you in your life. Gentlemen, goodbye.

They returned the salute, did an about face and walked into their afterlife together. I recognized Captain Reynolds, Lieutenant Yarrow, Puck and Major Higgins waiting for Loo and Chappy to join them on the other side. As one, the veterans I had been introduced to thus far to salute me. Tears streamed down my face, my heart full after helping such deserving souls find their way home.

“Sarah, you okay?”

Geordie peeked around the doorframe.

I took a deep breath and wiped the tears from my face. I did not bother to compose myself, hiccoughed and glanced at him.

“Oh Geord, I’m okay. I think. The green light was Lieutenant Jeremy Walters, from the US Marines. He was a lifer who served in Vietnam, retiring in 1995. He told me a few of his stories and then introduced me to Corporal Reginald Chapman. Chappy served in Vietnam until his left leg got blown off in 1968 and they sent him home. He killed himself in 1974. It was a sad story, but ended up with a happy ending tonight.”

“You never cease to amaze me, love. I thought I heard your phone ring. Who called?”

A giggle escaped my lips. I loved teasing him about my work with spirit, but it was nice to have company in my journey, too.

“Chappy killed himself after the love of his life left him in seventy-four. His story led me to find her on social media. She called, and we have been talking the last hour or so. I gave her a few messages from him and he led her to find a letter he left her over forty years ago. It was a beautiful, emotional, loving and sad moment rolled into a healing evening.”

Geordie pulled me up into his arms, wrapping his love around my shoulders, sharing his strength with me. I sank into his embrace, thankful again for his presence in my life.

“I know how Chappy and Debbie suffered. Love is uncertain in the beginning and it’s easy to think it’s not what you want it to be. I empathize with them and their loss, but so glad I could help them find one another again.”

I brushed my lips across his and sighed, content in our love.

“Thank you for loving me the way you do. I love you.”

Geordie got drinks while I sank into the couch, allowing myself to loosen up. A sip of red wine helped me relax as I thought reflected on Debbie and Reg’s relationship and how it healed her marriage. I gathered my thoughts before telling Geordie what transpired.

Geordie and I shared a lifelong fascination with the military. He preferred World War Two while I gravitated towards Vietnam. I told him of my meditation and meeting Loo and Chappy. We discussed the Vietnam War and how it affected the US and its veterans.

“It is heartbreaking that their experiences in the service compels so many veterans to take their own lives. Even now, with mental health in the spotlight, veterans flounder as they seek help. Their physical and mental health suffer so much that they can find no way of relieving their pain in this lifetime.”

My fingers clenched my wineglass, knuckles white with tension. I took a deep breath and forced myself to relax my grip, both on the glass and my anger. This project with the veterans was affecting me more than I realized.

“It is as if the government and military have viewed suicide as a cry for help. They are more willing to help the survivors and the families of those who commit suicide than they are the veterans themselves. If they were more willing to put money towards preventing their veterans from killing themselves in the first place, suicide rates might lower. More veterans might seek help for their mental health issues, too. Hell, if mental health was less stigmatized, more people in general would seek help and suicide rates might lower all over society. What I don’t understand is how suicide became a treatment for mental health? That’s like saying stabbing someone in the chest cures heart issues. No, it cures nothing. It begets even more complex problems than the original ones. Treat the veterans and their mental health concerns, not the grieving family and friends they leave behind when they die.”

Geordie pulled me onto his lap. His arms squeezed me tight. His embrace always gave me the freedom to relax and let myself grieve for the lost souls I worked with and their families.

“I cherish this comfort from you, Geord. Nothing heals the hurt better than love and understanding. It is what I try to give the veterans when they tell me their stories. I only hope I can help free them from their hurt. They deserve that much, at least.”

“I think the veterans are lucky that Jacob brought Roy to you, my love.” Roy was a Vietnam War veteran who had died in the jungles overseas. Jacob, a spirit I helped before, brought Roy to me so I could help him the same way I helped Jacob. “They couldn’t have found anyone more loving or understanding to hear the stories and memories they shared tonight. I know you have helped them, and I know they helped you. I see the impact they have had on you reflected in your eyes, and in your words. Your opinion of the Vietnam War has always been to support the soldiers who fought and sacrificed overseas. That opinion is even stronger now. That wasn’t a popular opinion during the Vietnam era, but I don’t think you could have cared any more then than you do now.”

I let out a contented sigh. It always amazed me that the Universe brought such a perfect partner to me. He could put my thoughts and feelings into words better than myself.

“Yes, it’s a much stronger opinion now and not one that will change soon. I have been thinking of volunteering my time with veterans, as an activist or something. It is important they get the care they need and I would enjoy helping if I can. You know, in my spare time.”

A wry laugh accompanied my last comment. “I may not have tonnes of spare time, but I can send emails, do mailings and make phone calls. They need help to make their voices heard, maybe I can help them in different ways to the project Roy brought me.”

A short time later, as we closed up the house to head to bed, I saw shadows of men lining the hallway as I walked to the stairs. They came into focus as I passed by them. It was veterans, a line of them, saluting me as I made my way to bed.

The first veteran I recognized was Roy, the first to come to me the night before. A troubled soul, he had been cut down by the NVA when he was only twenty-one, in January 1969. I smiled when I saw him, nodding as I thought about hearing the rest of his story soon.

At the end of the line, standing at the bottom of the stairs, stood Lieutenant Jeremy Walters and Corporal Reginald Chapman, smiling and saluting me one last time. Behind them, hiding in the shadows, stood a lone figure. Impatient for my attention, I sensed his need to tell me his story.

With a sigh and a smile I nodded to him. His turn was coming, we would meet again soon.

I’ll be ready when you are, I promise.

With that, I followed Geordie up to bed and hoped for a good night’s sleep.

To start at the beginning, see By the Grace of God: Chapter 1 here: