Remember Paul Walker, but Others Too

The death of every human being is a loss. Sometimes it may seem that one person's death is more important than another's. Why just this morning, I heard the traffic reporter on the radio say that a huge section of the freeway had been closed because someone jumped to their death off a freeway overpass. How tragic & very sad for that person's family who has to cope with their loved one's suicide, especially during the holidays at this time of year. This person's death will not make national headlines. Only those who knew this person, & those who heard the traffic report, will be aware of this individual's death.

Then there's the person who lost their battle with cancer, or the toddler who was run over by their own family member when they were playing behind the family's car & was hidden from view as the car was backing out of a driveway. How about the man who was going about his daily routine, when all of a sudden he collapsed & had a fatal heart attack? Or what about the woman who succumbs to an infection she was hospitalized for, after a mild case of the flu?

What about the person in the nursing home who simply died of old age, or the elderly person who couldn't afford to heat their home in the winter & froze to death? 

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Soldiers in Afghanistan

Then there's the soldier who was serving his/her country in a land far away, whose body was blown up when his vehicle ran over an improvised explosive device (IED). What about the soldier who was participating in a training exercise here at home, & an accident happened & that soldier died? Or how about the soldier whose battle during war might have been valiant, but upon returning home, loses the battle of the mind when the effects of severe post-traumatic stress pushes that soldier to suicide?

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How about police officers who are killed in the line of duty, as they are going about their daily job of trying to keep the rest of us safe here at home? What about border patrol agents who are killed by drug runners trying to cross the border? Let us not forget the wonderful police & military working dogs, who are specially trained to be the eyes, nose & ears to both track down & attack those trying to cause others harm? Those wonderful dogs don't volunteer for this job. They are drafted, so to speak, yet they willingly perform their job with love & complete devotion to their handlers & human partners. They are police officers (K-9 officers) & soldiers too, & when they are killed in the line of duty, it's a tragic thing when the only ones who grieve their passing are the ones they have worked alongside with. These dogs are heroes too & deserve recognition. 

I never heard of the actor Paul Walker (from the movie franchise "Fast And Furious") until I heard news reports of his horrific death recently. I did however, recognize his face as being an actor, but I have never watched the movies he was in. The more I have listened to & read the news coverage surrounding his death, the more I am able to appreciate the person he was. From all accounts, he was a very good man, & his death was indeed extremely tragic. He should OF COURSE be mourned. It's understandable that there is so much talk of him in the news, because he was famous, & many in the viewing public were saddened at  the news of his death. I don't minimize his death nor do I suggest that news coverage of his passing should stop.

I only want to remind us all that EVERY person is important in this world. We ALL matter, & the death of anyone should be given its proper respect & recognition. There are parents out there who have buried their young son who was a victim of gang violence, or their daughter whose low self-image drove her to self-harm & ultimately to the end of her life. Countless families have received the folded flag during the military funeral of their loved one, & the respectful yet eerie sound of TAPS playing reminds those in attendance of the tremendous sacrifice that was made on behalf of us all. So all I am saying is that as we pay the respect that actor Paul Walker & other celebrities who have died deserve, let us never forget to pay EQUAL respect for all others who have died, no matter what the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Why? Because every life is sacred, & everyone deserves to be treated with simple respect.

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Cemetery at West Point

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