Small town America is seen at it's best in times of trouble. This past week the townspeople of Inverness have mourned and held onto each other after losing one of their own in Iraq. Chief Warrant Officer Aaron A. Weaver lost his life in the attack and subsequent crash of a Blackhawk helocopter on Jan. 8th and the town is still reeling.
One of the characteristicts of a small town is that folk are very closely connected as in this situation. His wife and dad are employees of the local newspaper and known by much of the town. As expected, the Chronicle's coverage is both sensitive and full.
Not only is the town connected, but this family is deeply military. Both of Aaron's brothers, Steven and Ryan, are serving in the Army and Ryan is currently deployed to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. He had seen his brother Aaron two days before the crash. They know and understand the risk, that doesn't make the loss of Aaron any easier.
To add to the matter, Aaron did not have to go. He was in recovery from testicular cancer but he sought and recieved a special waiver to go with his unit.
As the family gathered to mourn, our governor, Jeb Bush, asked to attend the private funeral and expressed his remorse for their loss. The whole community will come together to mourn and show their support to the family in a public service afterward. These things hit a community hard. Even people who don't know the family or deceased personally feel the hurt and loss and have a need to express their support.
We hear of the loss of live in Iraq in the news almost on a daily basis, yet it is still hard to grasp. When a community looses one of their own, it is no longer abstract. The war, the loss of life take on new meaning.