My keys chimed while I looked for the right key to open the door but before I could find it the door swings open and my brother Paul pull’s me into the apartment slamming the door behind me “where have you been Sis” “don’t you know the world is at war” I studied his expression trying to determine if he was serious - he points towards the T.V. where he had been watching breaking news of the US lead invasion of Iraq this was in March 2003. He sits remote in hand asking “do you want to watch the news with me – I hope the innocent can find safety”

Thirty one years ago today on June 4th as little kids Paul and I found ourselves in the middle of Burma Camp, Ghana’s main military base, in a middle of a coup d’état. Military personnel with guns interrogating people and barking at us children, unfortunate enough to be in school uniforms that identify us as army brats question of who our parents are and where we lived.

Men in Pinzgauers indiscriminately firing ammunitions, my older brother Paul who was still a kid in single digit age himself lead us to safety, he instructed me to make myself as small and as low to the ground as I can and to cover my head with my book bag, we crawled sometimes through gutters.

I remember Paul whispering to me “it’s OK to cry sister but please do not make a sound – please do not make a sound” Sometimes I can still hear his voice in my head “it’s OK to cry sister but please do not make a sound – please do not make a sound”

Many years has gone by but every June 4th I remember the day vividly like it just happened and I whisper to myself It is OK to remember…………..

Posted: June 4th, 2010 under Journeying through life.
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