Home Cooking
“William Patiño” is my latest painting, created on 8.5” x 11” cardstock paper using the gel plate method. William was my friend's brother, and the bond they shared in life was something rare and irreplaceable. Although I did not know him well, I knew he was deeply loved by his mother and that he was the moon and stars to his sister. He carried a quiet strength, the kind of stillness that tells you there are deep waters behind a person’s eyes. I wish I had spoken with him more while he was here. His passing earlier this year was far too soon, and it was not until his beautiful farewell that many of us truly learned how wide an impact he had made.
At the service, person after person came forward to speak about the ways William had touched their lives. He had seen war and the losses that follow it, and the weight of that service spoke through the memories his brothers in arms shared. Childhood friends who had drifted apart still wept as if they had spoken to him only yesterday. Fellow service members told stories of deployment, of moments under fire, and of the survivors guilt that lingers long after the battlefield is gone. Through every story, one truth continued to rise. He was, by every word offered, an American hero.
In speaking with his sister, I learned that he had recently found a renewed and deeper connection with God and had even been baptized. I do not believe in coincidences, and I believe there is an angel in Heaven now watching over those who loved him. As his family has pledged, I also want to share information for any veterans who may need help. The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached by dialing nine eight eight and pressing one. You can also text eight three eight two five five or use the confidential online chat at VeteransCrisisLine dot net slash Chat. Support is available every hour of every day for veterans, their families, and their friends.
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