Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY

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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 30 May 2017

American Living:

A sister uses her gifts to send messages to fallen soldier

always been a bonding hometown, to be near her of heartache. Truth was,
point for them. He’d teach parents, she increasingly her own heart also had
her about his favorite rock tried to drown that grief been broken for years.
bands. She introduced him with alcohol, so much so Then, last fall, she received
to jazz violin. that she checked into re- a note from Jason Moon,
But in the years after his hab more than once. a musician and himself an
death, Sonja stopped play- “I was very sick for quite a Iraq war veteran whom
ing, as grief enveloped her. long time,” she said. she’d first met as a teen-
She got married in 2008 Her grandmother had died ager, when they played
and divorced seven years of heart problems shortly music together.
later. After moving back after Jon’s death but, as
to Neenah, her Wisconsin Sonja saw it, she really died Continued on page 27

Sonja St. John applies varnish on a violin at her workshop in
Neenah, Wis., on Thursday, April 27, 2017. Her brother, Jon St.
John, died in Iraq in 2007 while serving in the military. Among
other things, Sonja has found solace in her career, making and
restoring violins.
(AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)
By MARTHA IRVINE future souls of courage and
AP National Writer wisdom.”
NEENAH, Wis. (AP) — She The person foremost on her
begins each time by sharp- mind when she writes those
ening her tools, with the messages is her brother,
sound of metal on metal Jon St. John, an Army spe-
echoing through the sun- cialist who died a decade
lit old house she calls both ago when a roadside
home and workshop. Mak- bomb exploded near the
ing a violin is a methodical military vehicle in which he
art. For Sonja St. John, that was the gunner.
structure is a necessity — Jon, Sonja’s only sibling,
and the routine, in many was 25. She was 22 and just
ways, a saving grace. beginning her career after
“It’s a way to stay on track graduating from the Chi-
even when chaos can be cago School of Violin Mak-
happening right outside,” ing. She has a vivid memo-
she says. ry of sliding to her kitchen
She finishes each new vio- floor, her back against the
lin with another ritual, by cupboards, when her par-
gluing a small, handwrit- ents shared the news in a
ten message inside. This phone call.
began as a light gesture, This was her big brother, her
with favorite fortunes from fishing buddy and protec-
cookies placed inside with tor, tall and strong-willed
a wink as hidden signatures but also kind in sometimes
of sorts from her, the violin surprising ways. Her favorite
maker. But the notes she photo of the two of them
leaves now have become together was taken at one
far more personal and of her violin recitals in 2002.
meaningful. He’d come home from col-
Each is different, but they lege, wearing what she fig-
are often a tribute to those ures was probably his nic-
who’ve given of themselves est sweater, and brought
in some way, members of her flowers.
the military included. Her “He was just always a good
most recent one reads: “In friend to have around,” she
honor of past, present and said, noting how music had