| In Remembrance | |
by Kimberly Bailey
In the United States, the fourth Monday of May is Memorial Day. It is a day of remembrance dedicated to those who lost their lives in battle. It is a well established tradition whose roots are founded in the American Civil War. "Often called Decoration Day, it was the day when families around the nation went to graveyards and placed remembrances upon the graves of those soldiers, North and South, who died in the conflict."
As our nation paused on this day to honor these soldiers, Marcia and I realized what a poignant time this would be for our community to pause in remembrance of those lost in the battle with bipolar disorder - lost to suicide.
Consider the impact suicide has on one nation alone. In their news release of May 2, 2001, The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill shared, "Every year, more than 30,000 Americans take their own lives. Suicide is the eighth-leading cause of death in the United States, and the third among our youth, ages 15 to 24." In a press release of the same date from the United States Surgeon General, David Satcher states, "Suicide has stolen lives and contributed to the disability and suffering of hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. There are few who escape being touched by the tragedy of suicide in their lifetimes."
Consider the devastation wrought upon the families torn apart by the fatalities of this raging but often silent war. In her book His Bright Light, Danielle Steel writes of the moment when she had to tell her children that their brother was dead. " 'Gone ... he's gone ... I love you ... I love you all so much ... just as he loved you ... he died this morning.' There was no other way to tell them, no better way to deliver a lethal blow like that one. And as though I had stuck a knife in each of five hearts, in unison they screamed, a sound I will never forget ... long, hideous, howling screams of pain as we all sobbed and hugged each other. I will never forget delivering that death blow to them" (pg. 281).
| "I had a friend that committed suicide. For years, when I'd think of him, I'd cry. I cried because he was such a bright light, a sensitive and loving soul and he couldn't see it. I cried because he hid his pain too well. I cried that hard deep cry as I went through it all again and again in my mind replaying each word I'd said to him, each word I hadn't ... He came to me in a dream years later ... said that he was sorry, that had he known how many hours and how many days we that loved him would spend crying in the torment of his choice and his absence, had he known that we would become the carriers of his pain, he would have chosen differently." |
"Broken evil sunshine filters through the walls of my cell, I close my eyes to it, I don't need its warmth or its healing light. I want to stay here in the darkness, pale, panting and bleeding, wishing for an escape into reality, but I find none. My soul is empty. I am weak, hollow, alone."
from "Control" written by Nick Traina presented in His Bright Light
We will remember you.
Alex ~ Belinda ~ William ~ Andrea ~ Sean ~ Kate ~ Bob
May the lost of your life be as a wake-up call about the reality of this war.
Andy ~ Tara ~ Aaron ~ Daniel ~ Melissa ~ Henry ~ Cindy
May your deaths serve as a beacon drawing others to help in their personal battle.
Brenda ~ Josh ~ Dana ~ Stephanie ~ Joe ~ Nathan ~ Sally
We will remember you.
Suicide Crisis Links - Save Your Life!
More Information on Suicide
