Her face has been haunting for 503 nights.  Her realization that her boys and she will die, that she can do nothing to protect them.  It is the face of the nation.  And today their bodies will be returned.  

Of course they were human shields.  Of course no one would murder them directly.  

Of course they will remain in our hearts forever.

I personally will not watch the ceremonies.  I will watch the sudden rain that makes me think the sky is weeping for them.  And then I will do something ridiculous – go out for eggs benedict or buy a lacy tablecloth.  There will be the rest of my life to mourn them – when something positive is done that will diminish the pain.