Ethan's sacrifice belongs to all

It’s never easy to lose a child. My family and I, as EMTs, have seen that many times.

We weren’t ready for how so many shared with us our grief when our son, Ethan, laid down his life. To us, we lost a son … one of whom we were so proud, because we watched him grow up, do all the things a son does, and then make us proud by giving up little boy things to become a man dedicated to service to his family, his home, his country.

We can barely speak of our pride even now without tears.

While nothing can assuage our personal pain, the people of North Idaho, people from around this great nation and from around the world have insisted that they are grateful for our son’s sacrifice … for what he worked so hard to accomplish on behalf of all of us.

While the pain of losing a child rests hardest on us, we can’t help but take pride in what Ethan gave for us all.

That all of you stood beside us as our child came home; that you showed him, and us, so much gratitude and respect, doesn’t make the heartache less, but that our grief is honestly shared, and that Ethan didn’t give his life in vain.

It would be easy to say “thank you for the food,” thank you for being there and doing all this community does when one of us suffers a loss.

Such a thank you, though, would not come close to telling you how grateful we are. All the best that Ethan was isn’t ours alone. His sacrifice belongs to all of us.

Harv and Pam Martin

Bonners FerryS