The most difficult part of my job is doing
death notifications. We get the information about the soldier’s death and we
have to go ring the doorbell and tell them the news. I have to travel sometimes
up to six hours to deliver this important message. Sometime we have to deliver
it at six o’clock in the morning. These things must take place within twenty
four hours, so time is of the essence.
We can’t start until we get the official
first report from the Pentagon. They want to make sure the report is as
accurate as possible. They want to make sure we are going to the right family,
at the right address. They use all sorts of resources in order to find the
best, most recent address. This sounds easier than it is in reality.
And then we head out with our GPS, map, and
a cell phone to try to find the family. We generally try to give the news first
thing in the morning, or late in the day, because people often work and are
away from their homes. We don’t normally notify at work. We ask lots of people
for help with difficult addresses. Police, neighbors, fire stations, you name
it. Sometime you get there and they moved last week!
But none of these things are the difficult
part. That part comes after the doorbell ring is answered. We are standing
there in full uniform, somber faces, and they know why we are there. Almost
everyone when they see us in uniform know we bring really bad news. I have
ruined so many days!
We enter the home and have them sit. Then we
deliver the official message. Tears. Anger. Questions. Life has changed.
Our proverb says that a trustworthy envoy
brings healing. We are there in full uniform to bring the fidelity of the
United States government into that room. We represent the President of the
United States in that moment. And even in cases when the family expressed their
grief through anger, our visit begins the process of healing. As the chaplain I
represent the LORD first, and the government second. I try to remain
trustworthy to both of my Commanders.
We all need to be trustworthy in relaying
messages. We need to remain true to the LORD and to the one who sent us with
the message. Just as a peace envoy to the Middle East doesn’t represent themselves,
so we don’t represent ourselves in this world. We are the LORD’s
representative. We need to be trustworthy.