We remember Aurora

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

You believe there's something else
To relieve your emptiness
And you dream about yourself
And you bleed and breathe the air
And it's on and on and on and on

Like those lyrics by the Foo Fighters, a popular alternative rock band, Sgt. Sean Durkin had big dreams. His mother told The Denver Post that long before he enlisted in the Army in 2006, he wanted to serve his country.

"Whenever he drew or did anything for school when he was a child, it was always about the Army," said Mary Ann Durkin of her late son. "That's just who he was."

According to Joey Bunch's article, Sgt. Durkin lived in the Rocky Mountain suburb of Aurora, the title of the song from the aforementioned rock group's Grammy-winning third studio album. While Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, and Taylor Hawkins intended it as a love song using imagery of astrological phenomena, it is clear that Durkin was a bright light in the war-torn skies of the 21st century.

According to the Department of Defense, the 24-year-old soldier passed away on Friday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. A news release said he was badly wounded in attacks by terrorists using improvised explosive devices near Forward Operating Base Wilson, Afghanistan, on March 27. Two fellow soldiers were injured in the attack, but according to The Denver Post article, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

In a very moving passage of Bunch's report, we learn that Durkin deeply enjoyed working on two cars at home in Colorado. After the young man was informed his legs would have to be amputated, he asked family and medical professionals if he would ever be able to drive again.

While an infection from his catastrophic injuries eventually took the life of this brave soldier, who also served in Iraq, we now know the answer to that question is yes. Even though he will soon be laid to rest near his dad in Pennsylvania, Sgt. Sean Durkin will have eternity to drive above us, through the universe's neverending roads.