I know the love a father has for his son. I feel it every single day I breathe. I know what it is like to treasure the memories and moments kept in frozen animation on Kodak paper. To touch them is to feel the moment suspended, captured. A walk, a first walk, blowing out birthday candles and tickled pink Cheshire grins. I can go back and see the eyes of spark and flame and project my own desires, wishes, dreams and hopes of a passionate life, fruitful and full of rich ambitions. I know the love of a father for his son is kept in a box, the first thing saved when all looks lost. I know the love of a father and son, one for another it lives under your coat, held close, squeezed so tightly you never miss a beat. I know what love a father has for his son, only though for this past 15 months.
I saw Don Strickland carry this box of evidence with him as he entered the Grand Jury room to testify to the spirit and nature of his 18 year old son whose blood was shed by what the court of justice said was an act of self defense. The killer of this son, our son of primal communal parenting, is said to have felt his life in dangerous peril as he studied and watched in slow motion the son make his way forward. Deputy Chris Long watched over the top of a .45 caliber fully automatic submachine gun, watched through a window set in the front door as his target moved through the light as if the son were a hologram inching his way. Chris Long, Deputy Chris Long was doing what he was instructed to do, even if it was to kill the loved son of a father now holding tightly to a box until he can join in rhythm and sync to a familiar heart beat, feel a smile begin, and touch the taste of a spirit which roams free inches from his grasp. A box exactly like each of us who love our sons carry always and close, a box we open expecting others to capture the life contained within. A box, this slain son's father's box was placed in front of 18 human beings, at least 12 of which saw only that it had two bullet holes in it, nothing inside. They then made a judgement based upon what they think they saw or were told what they saw. A hologram. A target. A suspect. A threat.
Mr. and Mrs. Strickland meet my son Ben. There are a lot of us out here who know or are getting to know Peyton, your son, and Ben will be another.
My son is 32 years old and is serving in Iraq. I have never met Mr. Strickland but my greatest fear is his nightmare. I have a box my daughter in law gave me for fathers day 2 years ago, just before he left for duty. In that box is a photo album she put together of him and me from day one to the fishing trip we took togther just before he left. I admit I take it out almost every week or two.
I have other children, and 4 grandchildren. I have a trunk load of pictures and crayon drawings and report cards. Mr. Benson if my house ever catchs fire you are right, those treasures will be the first things I reach for.
May God Bless the Stricklands and give them strength to endure such a loss. And may God be with that deputy that made such an awful mistake. No man can live with that sort of guilt.
Posted by: Edwin G. Purser | July 11, 2007 at 10:30 PM
my son is in my wallet. he died 11 yrs ago and everyday i look at him and kiss him. That policeman should have never killed that boy.
Posted by: GPT | July 12, 2007 at 12:52 AM
i can't believe I posted in the wrong place. I did it under the other story. But what I said was this is a sad story and everyone should read it to know how sad this is. damn boy you made me cry!
Posted by: Kelly dumbutt | July 12, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Mark you come to me with your bullshit about how Chris is a killer and you and me will go around and round. You know Chris, he did what he was supposed to do. Mark 2 grand juries said no bill! What more do you want? And this business taking some punks side over a brother is treason. No wonder you can't handle it anymore and got to bully people on your radio show. Oh and say one more thing about FOP, I dare you. Traitor!
Posted by: Bearpost | July 12, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Please take the time to see the pictures of Peyton's life.
http://www.myspace.com/peytonstrickland
Posted by: One of Peyton's friends | July 15, 2007 at 11:15 AM