Yesterday afternoon one of the Blue Angels crashed to the ground and died. One minute, he was among the world’s elite fliers – strong, capable, admired – then suddenly he was dead. It stunned the community here in Pensacola where the team is based. We love the Blues and what they represent. What happens to them affects us all.
My thoughts immediately went to the pilot’s family. I know too well what happens behind the scenes, having been involved with too many crashes during my husband’s active duty years. We both thought dealing with military deaths would be easier once he retired; in fact, the opposite has happened, much to our surprise. So here we are, picturing the official notification of family, the shock and intense grief, the gathering together of the Blues’ squadron and families to provide support and child care and food and whatever else seems needed. No matter what we did in such situations, it always felt so inadequate, because really, how can you take away someone else’s pain and anguish?
In time, the pilot’s family will come to understand that their grief and loss are shared by many people, and perhaps that will provide some measure of comfort. Life is so fragile. Let’s not wait to love and care for each other.