Our little town of White Salmon was in the news last week end, and for a very good reason. A hero came home after 68 years. I don’t know any of the extended family personally, but the story touched me at a deep level. You see, I’m a mother of a US Marine who served in Iraq and Kuwait, and I can relate to the fear of losing a loved one.

I have God to thank that I can’t relate to the tragedy that befell this family. They lost their son 68 yrs ago during WWII and only just recovered his body.

I don’t know all the details, but a search team found the soldiers remains, along with his dog tag, wallet and dozens of expended shells of ammo in a fox hole where he died defending his country. I don’t know why he wasn’t found and brought home at the time, but his mother never gave up hope. She’s gone on now, and it was left up to his cousins and other family to welcome him home and give him a hero burial right here in our small town cemetery.

What a blessing for the family to finally have closure after decades of wondering. And what a tremendous sacrifice he, they, and thousands of other have made for our country. Let us never forget, no matter how long it takes.