Jane Horton OpEd: To Those That Have Borne the Battle
Many Oklahomans will remember Jane Horton, the proud wife and widow of SPC Christopher Horton who was Killed In Action on 09/09/2011. Formerly of Owasso, Jane has been working in Washington with the DoD on behalf of those wounded or killed in action and their families. This OpEd recently ran on the Huffington Post.
To Those That Have Borne the Battle
by Jane Horton
Two years ago on September 9, my beloved husband Chris was killed in Afghanistan. As I mark this sad anniversary, my heart is with his brothers in arms. I never really knew what it would be like to see him come home, experience a homecoming ceremony, run into his arms and kiss his beautiful war-torn face, or feel his invisible wounds of war.
My husband never came home as different person — I never had to maneuver my way around his new demeanor, personality, anxiety and PTSD.
I never awoke to him crying or screaming, not knowing who he was anymore, or with haunting images of battle.
Chris never had to hold his closest friends during their last breath — he never came home to deal with the pain, hurt, confusion, disappointment and guilt of being left on the battlefield and coming home with less than he went over with.
But you do.