While the nation mourned the death of the innocent students and faculty that died during the Virginia Tech shooting, it has become clear that the nation has not held the same honors to those soldiers who die serving their country in the Iraq war. While the flags were flown half staff for the dead of the Virginia Tech shooting, never are they lowered when a serviceman dies.

Have we become complacent? Sure we don’t expect a shooting like what we saw in Virginia Tech and it may be different for soldiers because soldiers themselves are expected and are burdened with the risk of death everyday. But are we not to honor them in the same way? I’m not sure that we should mourn every single death, but I think the mindset has turned to mere expectations, instead of sorrow and dread for the soldiers who die.

Some may say that the nation may be at war, but only the soldiers and families of soldiers are paying the price. Because, when a soldier dies, our nation, and our families often go about the day as if nothing has happened. But in a house, somewhere in America, there is a family that is startled by a knock on their door, and drop to their knees when they see a serviceman with a sad look… because that is just the beginning of a process for them, a process that starts with the knowledge that their loved one has just died.

We don’t need the rest of the nation or even the government to give honor to the fallen, because we can choose to take action ourselves, every night, and send our prayers to the brave men and women, who follow their commander in chief, who have faith in their own nation, who have faith in a foreign country that is in strife, and who believe that they are making a difference.

In the end, when we are asked what about the soldiers..

Let us reply, with pride and inspiration, and say that we pray for the fallen and give our heartfelt gratitude. They are in our thoughts for the courage and strength that they have shown.

What about the soldiers? — Well… they are heroes.