The shock of Halex's death rocked my world. I knew Halex through a college friend. We texted a lot after I graduated from Indiana University, but even when we weren't as close, I sent him a text every Fourth of July and every Veteran's Day because to me, Halex was an exemplary patriot and to me, he deserved to be recognized for this. He's the only person I did this for religiously. Because he was truly, to me, amazing in life and amazing in service.
But aside of my personal struggle with his untimely death, I am only experiencing a fraction of what is happening to the small town of Middletown, Indiana. This same town, flooded Hale's Facebook page in the days he was missing. This same town flooded God's "inbox" with prayers that this airman would return home. When Halex was found, the Middletown community, it seems, rallied around the Hale family in a way that could only be done in such a tight knit community.
The only thing I can ever think to do in tough times is write. So, not being a member of the Middletown family, I took to my keyboard. I tried to begin to describe my pain and the loss I was certain the community felt. Instead, all I could say was how proud of Halex I was. I couldn't get onto paper how I wished I'd texted him last week when I found a picture of one of our "tattoos". I couldn't figure out how to explain that Halex was a key component in some of our favorite college memories. All of those feelings of regret and nostalgia felt so small compared to his family's grief, his best friends struggle, and his incredible service to this country.
A few days after I blogged about Halex, I received an email. The man who wrote it did not know Halex personally, but grew up and lived most of his life in Middletown. He said, "We (in the world) need more Halex Hale’s, and this is a loss that is being felt very deeply in our little community. I hope this world turns around the right way and we all learn to love and get along, race and religion aside." What an exemplary testament to the community that Hale loved so much... What an amazing thing that someone who didn't even know him was willing to express how much this loss hurts!
I cannot quantify how much and how often I'm praying not only for Halex, his family, his close friends, and his girlfriend right now... But for the people of Middletown, Indiana. Thank you for gracing us with one of your own, for allowing him to touch all our lives, and for his sacrifice. The best things come out of small towns... Halex sure did.
Rest Easy Staff Sergeant. Let's make a beer pong and tattoo plan when I get to where you're at.