Fr. Aidan Writes:
On Wednesday 23rd, I had the honor of burying Private First Class Don Dowler. He was one of the K- 55 Korean soldiers whose mortal remains were returned to the USA two years ago. He was buried as if he were on the active list and given full military honors. For 70 years he had been languishing in a “foreign field”, but now he is at rest in the earth of our city, where his next of kin, his sister Pam, lives. This burial brings to a close this unfinished chapter for that family and is a poignant memory for the remaining Korean Veterans who we still respect for their service.
However, we now are looking at another very tense and dangerous situation regarding Pres. Putin’s aggression over the Ukraine. We hope to resolve this by diplomacy and by sanctions, rather than sending another generation of young soldiers into battle. It is this point I want us to reflect upon. These service personnel are our most virile young men and women. Foot soldiers are called “Infantry” but look at that word; it from “infants”, meaning young-youth. It comes from the times when, in order to fight the King’s battles, the land owners had to raise an army from amongst the peasant class; these would be mere lads, barely teenagers and above, who were handed a bow and arrow or sword and sent off in many cases to die. Today we still send our young to fight the battles started by older men who should know better. Yes, they are well trained and yes, they are proud and committed to fight for their country; they are still someone’s son or daughter barely out of school. Please keep in your pray- ers all our service men and women who, though dedicated and ready to serve, are facing the possible call to go and fight for freedom in another foreign-field.
God bless Fr Aidan-Peter CJ
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter