Sad Tonight

Several weeks ago I wrote about collecting children's clothing to send to a contact soldier in Afghanistan who had agreed to distribute it to children there. Kevin and I had collected almost two dozen printer-paper boxes full of clothing since August, and I have been shipping boxes since then, staggered so as not to overwhelm our contact, Tobias C. Meister.

Today I sat down to read the daily posts to the website, www.anysoldier.com. And what I saw broke my heart--Tobias was killed in an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion which injured two other soldiers on Decemer 28. He was married and had an 18 month old son.

I felt so strange, crying over the death of a person I had never met--never even heard or seen. But then I realized, I had met him. And so have hundreds of others who read his frequent posts and received his newsletters complete with pictures of Afghan children or fellow soldiers. Tobias was a soldier, proud of the whole "kick butt" abilities of his unit, but his aim was to bring together the local people. He was helping to build bridges and schools, create potable water, improve medical access for the Afghanis...not 6 o'clock news material.

Now he is a part of the year that was. His family and friends and fellow soldiers go forward with new days to spend. But Tobias had the opportunity to share his enthusiasm and generosity by involving people like me--from all over the world--in the changes he hoped to see. I will leave the military to find justice for him. Now is the time to continue his legacy.