A grief observed
Kathryn Lopez designates the picture above of Christian Golczynski as the picture of the day and draws our attention to the related May 13 Nashville Tennesseean story by Brandon Puttbrese:
Heather Southward Golczynski pulled six more letters out of her mailbox Tuesday, sent from across the nation by people touched by her husband's sacrifice and her son's courage.The Tennessean story also runs with this sidebar:Her husband, Marine Staff Sgt. Marcus "Marc" Golczynski, was killed in Iraq on March 27. At his funeral in April, Daily News Journal photographer Aaron Thompson captured Marc Golczynski's teary-eyed son, 8-year-old Christian, accepting a U.S. flag from his father's casket.
It was a picture of a moment that moved many Americans and stirred national interest in the Golczynskis' story."I see all of Marc's heart in him. I'm proud he stood up," Heather Golczynski said of the now-famous photograph. "Even in the absolute sadness of it all, he was a brave kid — he has the heart of his daddy."
For a month, well-wishers have sent condolence letters, blankets and stuffed animals to Marc's family. Others, many of whom the Golczynskis have never met, have set up trust funds and scholarships for Christian, who will grow up without a father.
Heather Golczynski, who lives in Maryland, will add the most recent stack of heartfelt mail to an expanding pile of more than 400 cards and letters, most of which tell young Christian how strong and courageous he is. "I'm in awe of the public's generosity," she said in an interview.
For Christian, the comments are bittersweet. "It makes him proud and he'll smile. But he still cries," Heather Golczynski said. "He's still looking for a new normal — normal doesn't exist for us anymore."
To donate to a memorial fund benefiting Christian Golczynski, go to any Pinnacle bank branch office or send a check to: Pinnacle National Bank, 114 W. College St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Checks should be made out to the Christian Golczynski Trust Fund.Instead of a donation to the Golczynski Trust Fund, Heather Golczynski has asked those wanting to help to make a donation in Marc Golczynski's name to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. If you would like to contribute by mail, please make your checks payable to: Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund and mail your check to: CFSRF, P.O. Box 3968, Gaithersburg, MD 20885-3968.
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