Reclaimed and Honored, by Priscilla Osgood

Written by Priscilla Osgood, a member of the UUSC Board of Trustees and of the Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, Penn., who accompanied UUSC staff members on the trip to Guatemala. These are her reflections on the delegation's visit to the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Association.

Boxes. Boxes. Piled four and five high. Pitifully few remains -- once vibrant, living, loving, laughing, crying -- now bones, a ragged sock, a piece of rope.

This one has so many teeth gone, laid out vertebrae by vertebrae. With that one, all teeth are intact and bones not totally fused. Too young to have children? Did he have dreams or did he understand the odds against him?

Boxes. Handled tenderly, with respect. How much of this story can be reconstructed? A jarring cruel death -- can he be returned to this family for a loving, spiritual farewell? A person reclaimed and honored. Will anyone answer for this death?