Andy Olmsted, a US Army Major was killed in Iraq on Jan. 3, 2008. The following day his friend published Final Post written by Andy in case he was killed.

I highly recommend you read it, and the other articles this very thoughtful and articulate person shared on his blog and in other online communities. Here is one of the many passages in Final Post that really moved me:

But for those who knew me and feel this pain, I think it’s a good thing to realize that this pain has been felt by thousands and thousands (probably millions, actually) of other people all over the world. That is part of the cost of war, any war, no matter how justified. If everyone who feels this pain keeps that in mind the next time we have to decide whether or not war is a good idea, perhaps it will help us to make a more informed decision. Because it is pretty clear that the average American would not have supported the Iraq War had they known the costs going in. I am far too cynical to believe that any future debate over war will be any less vitriolic or emotional, but perhaps a few more people will realize just what those costs can be the next time.