Only The Good Die Young.[LEWC]

Only the good die young. You have heard this saying throughout your lives I’m sure, but who believes this to be true? I know I do. For years I have been given examples that to me prove this saying true. Now, it does not mean that bad people do not die young, as I have also seen happen in my life. I must admit; due to the town I come from I may be a little bit biased on this matter.

The town I grew up in and once again live in has had what we locals would refer to as a curse for as long as anyone can remember. Every year growing up there were tragic stories of good young kids and others being killed. The first that I distinctly remember was a high school girl, (I was in elementary school at the time.) who died when she supposedly jumped off a freeway overpass late at night. There were rumors of others on the bridge and even an allegation that her boyfriend threw her off the bridge. She was an honor roll student and was well on her way to a successful life until that fateful night.

Not long after that incident our school superintendant was murdered by a disgruntled teacher. From what I know of the superintendent he was a good man and had good plans for our school district. A few years later high school began for me. During the four years I was in high school I witnessed students dying every year. Mostly due to drunken driving accidents or drug overdoses. My senior year a van full of honor students crashed after a football game and five good young girls were lost.

Heroin took our community by storm and still is to this day. My own brother almost lost his life to the drug but has recovered. Between the two of us we have lost over twelve friends to drug related deaths. Good kids who were exposed to bad things at too young of an age. It’s funny because the kids you always expect to die from drugs make it through just fine, but the ones you wouldn’t think would touch the stuff get burned. I lost a good friend named Jenny to Heroin. They found her in a drug house in Detroit dead from an overdose. She was smarter than anyone I know and yet she is gone.

The year after I graduated the saying was confirmed once again. Another good friend of mine was taken. She was a good girl and had a good head on her shoulders. She decided to get in a car with guys she hardly knew and go for a ride. Fifteen minutes later she was burning to death in a swamp with three other passengers while the drunk driver escaped unscathed while killing his brother in the process. Once again the good perished while the town mourned.

So after high school I decided to join the Marine Corps where I would see the old saying come true more than I could ever imagine. The only one I wish to speak of tonight is my friend Cliff. He was a Corporal in the Marine Corps when he was killed outside Ramadi, Iraq. He was a friend from my hometown and he would not have been a Marine had he not followed me a year after I did. He supported me while I was deployed and he entered service as soon as he graduated.

I learned of his death even before his family did. I had a friend who was wounded and working in the headquarters casualty reporting office. He would bring by a list everyday for us. I still cannot remember just how I felt when I learned of his death but anger and guilt come to mind. I feel responsible for my role in his enlistment and I visit him often where he is buried here at home.

So, there has been one more incident in recent years to confirm the saying for me. My best friend Mike was killed in a Car accident almost two years ago. He was a good man and has a great young son that he left behind. Mike lost his father when we were in high school in a snowmobile accident. His father was also a great man. The loss of this friend has completely broken apart our group of friends. He was the good that held us all together and now he is gone. We watch over his son and remind him of his dad’s greatness as often as we can.

The moral of this story is that no matter how I look at it; most of those I know who have left this earth that are truly good people have left early. Some people may not agree but I truly believe that only the good die young.

Some people may not agree but I truly believe that only the good die young.

reply to post by usmc0311
..another good one as usual...just write a book

Originally posted by SarnholeOntarable

Some people may not agree but I truly believe that only the good die young.

reply to post by usmc0311

 

..another good one as usual...just write a book

Thanks. I'm working on a couple actually. One is my story and will be complete soon I hope. Wether or not i;ll ever get published or not is debatable but it makes me feel better to do it so I will not stop even if this is as far as I go.

Oh, man! Rip my heart out why don't ya!

Just a couple of comments. Heroin is big big big around here the last few years as well. It was so sad for me, too, to see some of my friends go down the tubes, and yes, even die from it. One thing about drugs is that it ruins lives indiscriminately. Drugs don't care if you're smart or not, or rich or poor, or what ever color or religion. They harm equally.

My other comment is about your friend. The Marine. He wants me to tell you that he planned to go into the military. Yeah, he may have been following your lead. But it was already planned long ago. No worries. And good - about his son.

Originally posted by angellicview
Oh, man! Rip my heart out why don't ya!

Just a couple of comments. Heroin is big big big around here the last few years as well. It was so sad for me, too, to see some of my friends go down the tubes, and yes, even die from it. One thing about drugs is that it ruins lives indiscriminately. Drugs don't care if you're smart or not, or rich or poor, or what ever color or religion. They harm equally.

My other comment is about your friend. The Marine. He wants me to tell you that he planned to go into the military. Yeah, he may have been following your lead. But it was already planned long ago. No worries. And good - about his son.

Thanks, this was a tough one to put out. This stuff needs to be heard even if by a biased audience.