It’s so pleasure to post this blog that I awakened my memories about my buddy soldier who sacrificed his life for the country in the war field year 2009. Though I was able to spend more time at your cemetery last year, I will be unable to do the same this year as I’m not in the country for attending your seventh commemoration. So that, I post this for you with my salute!  

My memory goes to the Jaffna camp where I completed my basic military course year 2004. I met Andrew while I was training there. His discipline, self-respect, pride in his unit and his country, high sense of duty and obligation to comrades and his superiors are the qualities, he showed all over the training. “More sweat on the training field, less blood on the battlefield" was the best that we kept in the mind while we were training. He became my role model and not merely the best friend and my buddy in the defense. 

After the Basic training, we were deployed in the Alpha base where the most powerful point of the Army that had been tried to attack several times by the enemies. In January 2009, the largest battle of the war took place at that night, when huge Enemies cadres surrounded the army's Alpha base, which controlled access to the Capital. All those times so long ago, I still remember what happened at that night

Andrew and I were on duty in the second bunker of Alpha base. We were alerting on terrorist snapping at the camp. A mysterious vehicle entered the field at once that it was with a great weight fulfilled explosives.  Though the enemies began pounding our camp with heavy mortars and weapons to the cries of injured and dying soldiers amidst deafening explosion, all eyes were still centered on that armed vehicle. “What a hell is that!” I yelled and looked back at Andrew but, he was not there. The last thing I saw, holding two grenades in his hand, dashed out toward the oncoming armed vehicle and clambered up to the peak of it and tossed the two grenades inside it. Disregarding numerous injuries he himself had suffered from enemies bullets. The grenades disabled the armed vehicle that advanced with a view to blast the defense line of Alpha base, amidst bursts of the fire accompanied by serious of the explosion. Oh my God! Andrew was flung to the ground and laid motionless.

The camp had been saved from being overrun by the enemies in part by his bravery. It has been seven years since it happened. Your service for the country cannot admire by only an offering a medal. And we will remember you at the going down of the sun and the morning.

We are feeling very happy here in Sri Lanka at present, with the Ethnic War ending in 2009.  

Recently I visited a home of the aged where group of innocent aged parents were abandoned by their children when they reached old age and when they were feeble or sick. I got the chance to interact and talk with them. After hearing their painful stories, I tended to write this blog and dedicate this to them as a sense of view on how such parents who are in the home of the aged, spending the later part of their life lonely.

I think that nobody can think about a life without parents. They are the sun and the moon in our world, in our family. It’s a love we can never count. Their love is unchangeable , unconditional and uncountable.

The happiest day of my life was the birth of my son. That day I experienced my parent’s limitless love towards me. My mother gave birth to me and made my arms strong whereas my father cleared the road me to come out from the darkness. The time has come for me to repay them, but I’ll be unable to complete my task, even if I try my best for them all my life time long. I guess, I don't have to explain the responsibility of being a parent as you all are aware about this.

If we do not think about our parents more, we are guilty of allowing, building more homes of the aged. I think all parents who are looking and waiting for their children to care for them as they grow older, and that is something that we, the children should think of.

Considering the exceeding of violations in the modern society, I tend to write about family as my second blog which is I believe the core of a virtuous society.

I think that we should focus more attention to our family as it is the foundation of the society where a person comes into the world. Hence the family must be strong with good qualities such as patience, loyalty, sympathy, honesty, forgiveness et cetera. It can be compared to a necklace with precious beads joined by a golden chain. Same when a happy family unites and shares affection, filled with love and protection. When the chain is weak, the necklace will be broken and beads will scatter. Because of the increment of stress of the people, due to busy schedule, technology, fame, and richness that we do not see what is happening around us. We now see painful scenarios such as fatherless children, motherless children, single parents, homeless people and others.

Unless we keep more attention on keeping our families in a well manner by dint of hard work to be united together, then we will soon be the reason of the future generations to fall as we were unable to save a good community for them. It is a great responsibility to protect our society in-order to present a great world to our children. So that, keep more attention on your family which is expecting love and protection. 

Dearest Jaan,

The memories of our vacations together were making me comfortable with my journey over the new base where they sent me to lead the corps. Sweet heart, you can smile now that I am transferred to the new camp after the violent incident of the final war on which I got injured. You can wipe your tears from your wet cheek as it had been tearing all the time during this horrible war, because now it has come to an end.

You don't have to worry anymore because there are no shoots or blasting around me. I know hearing this news will set you free from all your sufferings and sighs.

Now we can step to a new chapter of our lives with fresh hopes on welcoming our baby. From now on, you can feel my touch and that I'm always in your heart.

Your ever loving,

Sam