A Soldier’s Widow Gives New Meaning to Mourning
On his last day of service, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, 30, was diffusing a roadside bomb in Afghanistan when it blew up and took his and another soldier’s life. He left behind a wife, Christina Schmid, and stepson. For his service, Staff Sergeant Schmid of the UK was awarded the George Cross.
A Different Way to Mourn
Rather than grieve in the way one might expect a widow to grieve, Mrs. Schmid drew strength from the incident to speak up about her feelings regarding the war in Afghanistan and the pride she feels for her late husband. The “Guardian” reports that Mrs. Schmid wore the Staff Sergeant’s pins and applauded his casket when it passed her in a hearse on the day of his funeral.
Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Schmid has spoken on numerous occasions about the troops’ needs for better equipments and higher military pensions, as well as the need for politicians to fight for peace. The “Guardian” reports:
“Mrs Schmid’s brave and level-headed expressions of her conviction and the shows of mourning in Wootton Bassett have put a much-needed human face on the conflict. Although many Britons might not agree with the political aims of an Afghan conflict, they can wholeheartedly appreciate the personal cost for the troops and their relatives. And for those military families without a voice, Mrs Schmid’s outspokenness has been invaluable.”
Mrs. Schmid has encouraged the public to memorialize and pay their respects to fallen soldiers in ways that are more visible.
Read more about memorializing a family member.
There are varieties of memorial gifts one can purchase to pay their respects. However, a very public and free way to remember servicemen and women who lost their lives is with an online military memorial. Anyone around the world can view the memorial online and add stories, pictures and videos of their fallen loved one.
[photo: Palace Barracks Memorial Garden]
Learn more about creating a free military memorial.
Tags: christina schmid, military memorial, military memorial templates
