We often talk about how grateful we are for the free land we inhabit. Of the land, that builds its foundation on the strength of a man’s soul. Of the men of honour, of indomitable will and a steely heart, who stand a post while we lay in our beds, safe and sound, knowing nothing can hurt us while these men stand guard. But it is said, that freedom is free, because the price has been paid by someone else. People, we often forget to remember. Men, we often forget to honour. Soldiers, who lay their life down with a smile on their face. We often forget, that even the men who make the supreme sacrifice for our freedom, leave behind a family and take a piece of their heart with him.
But one man on Twitter ensures we don’t forget the price paid.
Harpreet (@CestMoiz) has been tweeting soldier’s obituaries for years. And his tweets moisten the eyes and swells our heart with pride. He started putting together a thread that chronicled pictures and letters of the families of martyred soldiers. He says this is what got him going.
#ThoseThatWait
THIS is the photo that got me going.
Lt Kanavdeep Singh’s mother carries her son one last time, 2003 pic.twitter.com/WtuM44hXHT— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) April 3, 2016
#ThoseThatWait
Sukhbir Kaur, mother of Manpreet Singh lending a shoulder to her son’s casket, Dec 2014.
(KIA in Uri) pic.twitter.com/7OG4mkwUdC— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) April 3, 2016
Moments where family members break down, in the memory of the ones that left.
#ThoseThatWait
A woman breaks down as she reads the name of her brother engraved on the Kargil memorial pic.twitter.com/VfeH0PvlvD— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) April 7, 2016
Of a father, who stood at the very ground where his son laid down his life..
#ThoseThatWait
Col Thapar, at the culmination his pilgrimage to the part of earth where his son breathed his last.. pic.twitter.com/Z15nTZfGfZ— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) July 1, 2016
Of a daughter who smiles, knowing that her father was a hero who saved a country..
#ThoseThatWait
Can’t explain how good it feels to see a smile on this young lady as she salutes..
God Bless pic.twitter.com/rR7vDyhgqd— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) July 12, 2016
Of young brides, who lost the love of their life, before their life even begun..
#ThoseThatWait
Sep Rachpal Singh’s young bride, still wearing her ‘Chura’, with those that brought him home, dead .. pic.twitter.com/T7jt7mtgZR— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) July 15, 2016
Of children who will only know their father, through the memories that the nation holds..
2/2#ThoseThatWait
He recently became father to a little angel he wouldn’t have known was on her way
God Bless her.. pic.twitter.com/fHhiAQJERb— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) August 17, 2016
And of men, who will avenge their brother’s death..
#ThoseThatWait
These barrels pointing down in grief now will soon b horizontal,visiting retribution 2those concerned pic.twitter.com/YGC4bDrNiI— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) July 14, 2016
We often forget to say a quiet prayer of thanks. A prayer for the men, and the families of those brave men, who without a moment’s pause, make the supreme sacrifice for us and our children.
We thank Harpreet for reminding us, ever so gently.
Jai Hind.
