A very moving story.

I haven't followed much on the war in Afghanistan; the stories I tend to hear of are of death and heartbreak for friends and family on the news almost everyday, and sadly, they all seem to have blended into one.

My late grandfather's father served in World War 2, and was killed while serving the country. This led to my grandfather having to be adopted when he was very young, and didn't have his father to turn to while growing up. However, it was not an uncommon story during the 1930s-1950s; many families lost loved ones as every man in Britain was called up to fight for their country, with no choice whether to serve or to protect their families at home.

Watching the X Factor (of all things) last night opened my eyes to what young men and women are going through these days. Unlike World War 1 and 2, these men and women CHOOSE to fight for their country, and to help people in countries such as Afghanistan. On the show they showed a feature on Lance Corporal Matthew Wilson. He, like other people in the UK, lost his father in the war, but through admiration and for his father he joined the army when he turned 19. That to me stood out as incredible itself. The bravery Matthew Wilson must have had to join the army when tragedy was so close to home moved me even there! Tragically, Matthew Wilson stepped on a hidden bomb in the ground, and had to have a leg amputated. He was critically ill and was flown to the UK for life-saving treatment. After getting treatment, Matthew says 'I just wanted to get fit again and be back on the front line'.

I was definitely humbled, and brought to tears at the bravery and dedication this soldier has to protect and serve our country. It also must have been terrible for his mother as she had already lost her husband, and said she was so proud her son chose to join the army. It must have taken much bravery from her to allow her son to follow such a dangerous path!

There isn't really a point to this blog, just to vent my feelings on a subject I have never been exposed to in this way. I'm glad they made such a point of it on widespread television, to put this subject at the forefront of everyones minds, and to either donate money to Help for Heroes or buy the X Factor single.