Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne, 31, of Reno, Nev., died Sept. 18 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
http://www.defense.gov/...
The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth, -
The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.
- Emily Dickinson
Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne
I have written a lot of IGTNT diaries. Each time, I have experienced a profound sense of sadness for the loss of the life of the soldier that I have written about, even though I never knew the soldier that I was writing about.
This week, I have a different sense of loss when I write. This past week, my son in law, who I love like my own child, deployed to a very dangerous part of Afghanistan.
It's easy to work up a tear for a stranger, when you see their picture, or pictures of their family. Almost anyone can feel that lump in your throat, or a sense of dread, when you hear about a stranger dying, but it's not the same unless your own skin is in the game.
This week, I have a better sense of what it means to lose a child. Just sending one away to a place of danger fills one with a sense of dread. Every day, you think about whether or not your child will be safe. I can imagine how the parents of Tim Sayne felt, every day that he was away. I can hardly imagine how they feel as he comes home.
If you have a child in the military, you won't have to look on the DOD website every day to find out if your child is safe, as I did until I realized that someone would knock on my daughter's door, before I would ever read about a bad thing happening to the man who holds my daughter's heart in the palm of his hand.
If everyone could feel that daily sense of dread, or feel that profound sense of loss when you get that knock on your front door, we would never fight another war. I pray that such day never comes for any of us. Until the day, when no parent, or wife, or child, or loved one has to feel that stinging sense of loss, let us pray for those who do their country's bidding, and go to war with a sense that they are putting their lives on the line to protect those that they love.
Think about Tim Sayne tonight. Think about him like he was your own child, or husband, loved one or friend. Look closely at his face, and pray for those who won't see that face again, until the end of days.
Sean Ivey grew up an only child, but about five years ago, he found someone like a brother — Timothy Douglas Sayne. The two were neighbors on a street in Reno. They worked out together in Ivey’s garage, and went on hikes to Graeagle. Ivey even introduced Sayne to Sayne’s future wife, Thania Agustin. The last time he saw Sayne was at their Oct. 19, 2009, wedding in Reno.
Sayne, 31, was killed on Sunday from a blast from an improvised explosive device while serving in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was a sergeant in the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division of Fort Wainwright, Alaska, at the time.
He left behind a son, Timothy, and he and Thania Sayne were expecting a second child, according to Hall Funeral Chapel in Effingham, Ill. He is also survived by his mother, Mary “Kathy” Sayne; father, Robert Sayne; two brothers; and a sister, according to Hall Funeral Chapel and the Effingham Daily News.
“He was a great friend, a great father and a great husband,” Ivey said, as his eyes reddened from the loss. “I consider him my brother. I’m an only child, and he was like a brother to me. Words can’t express the loss that everybody that knew him felt. What a wonderful person he was.”
http://www.rgj.com/...
Honorable Transfer: Monday, Sept. 26, Coles County Airport, 9:45 a.m. (Media should arrive no later than 9:15.)
Visitation: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 405 South Henrietta St., Effingham, IL 62401-1984
Funeral Mass: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 10:30 a.m.
Sacred Heart Church, 405 South Henrietta St., Effingham, IL 62401-1984
The family of Sgt. Sayne has decided to allow media to cover the Honorable Transfer and Funeral services, but they will not be granting interviews at this time. Media interested in covering the Honorable Transfer and services should contact Maj. Brad Leighton, the public affairs officer, at 217-725-2265 for further guidance.
http://readme.readmedia.com/...
Please join us in prayer for Tim Sayne, and those who loved him.
What is excellent,
as God lives, is permanent.
Hearts turn to dust,
hearts love remains.
Hearts love will meet the again.
- Emerson
About "I Got the News Today" (IGTNT)
I Got the News Today is a diary series intended to honor service members who have died as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; its title is a reminder that almost every day a military family gets the terrible news about a loved one. Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories. The series, which was begun by i dunno, is maintained by Sandy on Signal, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, Twilight Falling, Joyful, SisTwo, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, Maggie Jean, Jax Dem, Kestrel 9000, TheFatLadySings and me, SpamNunn.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members chronicled here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.
If that's not clear, read this: http://www.dailykos.com/...