It is the U.S.Army policy to make personal notification to the primary next of kin and secondary next of kin of the deceased soldier within four hours after learning of the death. Notification would take place from 0600 to 2200.

The grief that results when war claims the life of a loved one can present unique challenges to survivors. According to the Religion Newswriters Foundation, most grief is private and personal, but war deaths have a very public dimension. Psychologists tell us that denial is one of the steps in the grieving process.

Over a million British soldiers were killed in this war so for most families telegrams came to be associated with bad news. This eventually contributed to the decline of the telegram for private communication. I believe that during World War 2, the telegram was the way most next of kin were notified of the death.

When someone dies, the whole family system is thrown off. Grieving family members find themselves disinterested and/or incapable of behaving in the ways they used to. Not only do people have to cope with grief, but they also must deal with the fact that a vital piece of the family is gone.

Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight.

Here are some signs that you may still be grieving for the loss of a loved one.

• Irritability and Anger. These feelings often come up seemingly out of the blue some weeks or months after the loss.
• Continued Obsession.
• Hyperalertness.
• Behavioral Overreaction.
• Apathy.

Grief is natural and frankly, uncontrollable. You will feel what you feel. However… Studies have shown that for most people, the worst symptoms of grief — depression, sleeplessness, loss of appetite — peak at six months.

The simple, reductionist answer is that grief lasts between 6 months and 4 years. One study found that intense grief-related feelings peaked at about 4-6 months, then gradually declined over the next two years of observation.

The cremation of the deceased marks the beginning of the mourning period, which lasts for 13 days. During this time, the family will stay at home and receive visitors, though mourning rituals may differ depending on the community.

The first traditional mourning period of Orthodox Christians lasts for forty days. During this period, certain days are considered to have special significance: the third day (on which the funeral is usually held), the ninth day, and the fortieth day.

The five stages of grief are:

• denial.
• anger.
• bargaining.
• depression.
• acceptance.