Erin Springsteen

West Point, 2002

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Shauna Brock on August 2, 2024:

I thought about Erin a lot over the last few months, dating back to the anniversary in April. When I was telling someone about Erin recently, I had to pause for a moment when I realized how long it's been. 20 years. Two full decades. That's barely less than Erin's age at the time when we lost her. How can that much time have passed? There's a sentiment that's been derived from long held beliefs about those loved ones we've lost. Its been conveyed while celebrating those loved ones on holidays like Dia de los Muertos, and has been worked into books and movies. "As long as we remember a person, they're not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become part of us." Well, I want to let Erin know that she has continued to live in my heart and mind. Twenty years on, and counting. I put my faith in that sentiment and want to make sure that she is never forgotten. How could she be? I still can picture her smile, hear her laugh, and remember her positive attitude. She was one of the very best of all of us. Recently, I've been asked to take on the role of Resiliency lead for a non-profit. Having lost my husband (another Army veteran) to suicide, and working to help other friends that have suffered from the effects of our job at war...guilt, shame, dissasociation, and struggles with re-integration...resiliency is something that is so important to me. I always associated resiliency with Erin. No matter what, I always will. I hope that I can find a way to help those that need help before we lose them, too. Miss you now and forever, Erin.

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