The War hits home

This morning on the news, they announced that funeral services for Private Pfender would happen this week. I never had the pleasure of meeting this young man but his death brought the war a little too close to comfort for me.

I first learned that Jonathon Pfender existed when the local Pizza Hut on St. Joe announced wishes of good luck on their marquee. He worked at the Pizza Hut, enlisted in the Army, and was sent to Iraq. I don't know what he looked like, what he did in his spare time, what made him who he was but thanks to that marquee I knew that he existed and I knew that he must have had an impact on those who knew him because that marquee kept the wishes of good luck on display - it never came down.

I don't know if my sense of comradery with Private Pfender was because we both worked at the Hut. It seems that I always have an instant bond with a person when we find out we both did some time smelling like pizza (not as pleasant as you might think). The announcement of his death today just really jarred me and put a more personal spin on the war - I didn't even know him, just knew that he existed.

I think the feelings are a lot like those felt after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. I don't have a frame of reference for what those locations looked like and I (thankfully) did not know anyone who was personally affectected so I was detached and until Private Pfender I was detached from the war also.

Mixed feelings - not sure if it is like the Toby Keith song "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then". I do know that even though we never met, I will never forget Private Pfender - my life from this point out is definitely different. God bless and keep you Jonathon Pfender.