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Soldier’s family makes music, hope out of loss

Jan-24-2005 » Filed Under: Charitable Projects

The News Tribune wrote a story highlighting Norma & Jorshua Melo's music project we mentioned last week.

Link to Full Article
KATHLEEN MERRYMAN; THE NEWS TRIBUNE

Slammed with the violent or unexpected loss of a loved one, wise people often turn to action.

They cannot replace the loss, but they can try to repair the situations behind it. The work, they discover, has healing properties.

Nationally, that’s why we have Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Locally, that’s why we have the Children’s Safety Fair, founded by Pattie Bastian after the murder of her daughter in Point Defiance Park.

But for the families most at risk in this military community, the work would seem out of bounds. How, after all, would one honor a death in Iraq with a healing action in Iraq?

A month ago, Norma Melo learned that her husband, Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, was among the 22 dead in the suicide bombing of a mess hall in Mosul, where he managed supplies for the Stryker Brigade.

“He left the ninth of October. He did not have to go, but he chose to go. That’s what he was,” Norma said. “He was born to be a soldier.” [...]

Joshua told Norma: “Mom, maybe we can buy some instruments and music and pay to have a teacher trained to teach music. It would make Dad happy, because music brought him all the joy in the world.”

That is the project they have started.

They will start it with $4,000 already donated to an account in Julian’s honor. Word has spread to the entertainment industry and the response has been encouraging. Officers in Iraq have located two music teachers who are making lists of instruments. The Melos hope to set up an endowment to send $10,000 a year for instruments, sheet music and teachers in Iraqi schools.

“We can’t change the hearts and minds of the adults who did this terrible thing to us. If it was in our power, we would,” she said. “What we can do is let his love grow little by little in the minds of these children and in their hearts. Maybe, by bringing some joy in a productive way for their society, we can help them heal.”

Norma doesn’t know what instruments the teachers will want, but if you have, say, a clarinet in the attic, you can let her know at nmelo0618@comcast.net, and she will let you know if the project can use it. If you have a few dollars that want to sing, they can tune up at the Julian S. Melo donation account at any Columbia State Bank.


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