“You always hear all these statements like ‘Freedom isn’t free’. You hear the President talking about all these people making sacrifices. But you never really know until you carry one of them in the casket. When you feel their body weight. When you feel them, that’s when you know. That’s when you understand.”
Sgt. Kevin Thomas of Aurora
I read this post over at The Cotillion. It was posted there by Tammy from A Mom and Her Blog.
I know I’m overly sensitive to stories like this. With my son scheduled to be deployed from Germany to Iraq next month, I can’t seem to get it out of my mind.
It’s the 600 pound elephant in my house and constantly in the back of my mind. It’s gaining weight daily as the time draws nearer.
When I saw the story the pictures immediately drew me in and I clicked on the link to the rest of the story. I read every word and looked at every picture and a sadness crept over me. Sadness for the people in the stories and for the people whose stories we won’t ever know.
Sadness for the ever looming presence of that 600 pound elephant in my own living room.
I mostly thought of my friend who lost her husband in January. [American Strength]
Last night, just before I went to bed I read this. And today I read more about the sedition of the students at UC Santa Cruz, here and here. I went to their website and read how they bragged about their disrespect and contempt for our troops.
I was so angry for the mindless sedition of the UC Santa Cruz students last night I could barely read their silly postings. It really irritated me when I tried to leave a comment and they had the comments shut off.
Today as I read the story of the Final Salute I thought of those students again.
The dichotomy between the misguided useful idiots and the disciplined protective warriors is glaring. The students storm a group of recruiters they know will not strike them back. The Warriors go willingly and bravely facing an enemy determined to kill them. And then the Warriors stand guard over the body of a fallen Soldier.
The little students are very fortunate to have these Warriors standing guard over us all. They are fortunate there are men like this who will fight for their right to spit in their faces.
I have no respect for the little spoiled misguided students at UC Santa Cruz or any of their ilk. They are cowards and would see us submit to anarchy or islam before they would pick up a weapon and fight for their country. I don’t want my tax dollars paying for their little educations.
I have the utmost respect for and honor the Soldier who fights next to his comrades in arms and stands guard over the body of and family of the fallen.
Which would you rather have protecting you?
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Previous post: American Strength
Please see David at Echo9er post on this here.
Read the whole story of the Final Salute
Linked to Open Post: Freedom USA; Woman Honor Thyself; The Median Sib; Echo9er; Free Constitution; TMH’s Bacon Bits; The Uncooperative Blogger; Cigar Intelligence Agency; Adam’s Blog; Third World County; The Liberal Wrong; Pirate’s Cove; Gribbit’s Word; Stop the ACLU; Publius Rendezvous; Cao’s Blog; Stuck on Stupid; Rhymes with Right; Argghhh!;
Others posting about the Silly Santa Cruz Student Seditionists: Law & Ordinance; California Conservative; Solomonia; chez Diva; Outside the Beltway; Urban Grounds; The Right State; Sister Toldjah;
April 13th, 2006 at 5:06 am
Great post. I’m glad you decided to expand on it.
April 13th, 2006 at 8:07 am
Beth, thank you for posting about UCSC’s students. I know the recruiters who had to deal with them this year and last year. I deal with these students all the time here, in the grocery store, the bank, downtown. I live just down the hill from the campus. To say the least, they are lacking in manners for the most part.
I also went to the recruiting station yesterday with a big batch of cookies for the guys. and a big Hooah and hugs. They are more irritated than anything as they are kept from doing their job and that’s what they try to do every day under mostly adverse circumstances here. These guys are the best!
April 13th, 2006 at 8:10 am
A knock at the door……
the knock every military family dreads.
The Rocky Mountain News wrote a moving twelve-part series: The Final Salute and I learned about it thanks to Blue Star Chronicles . She writes:
I know I’m overly sensitive to stories like this. With my son sche…
April 13th, 2006 at 9:41 am
Final Salute
After a week or so of what seems like an inordinant amount of bad mouthing, slandering, military bashing, and just plain nastiness, I came across this post at Blue Star Chronicles, “Final Salute”…
April 13th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
This is one of those real “tear-jerker” stories. I firs posted this back in November 2005 here.
I posted then that the duty of Casualty Notification and Assistance is one of the tougest jobs any Commissioned or Non-commissioed offers can be called upon to perform.
While it is tough duty, it is very satisfying. You are helping one in need. You are there, every step of the way to provide aid and comfort. You are the person to call for help and you provide a most valuable service.
I speak from experience here. I have performed this duty on more than one occasion. I have also been on the other end, briefing and training those that are chosen to serve.
This is an awesome presentation by the media. More newpapers need to take a lead and publish this side of the issue, rather than the idots that protest or otherwise try to minimize the impact of a Soldier’s death as “just a number.”
Thanks, Beth, for reminding me of this post and reminding me of the importance of these fine Servicemembers that provide such a vital service to the families of the fallen.
April 13th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Oh Beth this was written so beautifully and gave a glimpse into your heart and mind more than anything else I have read that you wrote. First, let me say that I will keep your son in our family prayers as we keep all our troops in our prayers. Second, I do not know or comprehend the elephant in your living room so I will not pretend to. My best friends son has been in Iraq almost a year and will be home in September. I know she is holding her breathe. This was his second tour of duty. I made it down to Walter Reed with the Freepers on a Friday night ahwile back and will go again to welcome and support our wounded soldiers. I am going to the Milblogs conference this year as it is being held in D.C. I try to do my miniscule part. Like you I have no respect for those that spit in the faces of soldiers and derail and lie about this war and our troops. They are like you said cowards.
I lost a son ten years ago, eight and a half to a drunk driver. The story is at my blog. You can search it “My Son” if you missed reading it. That is about the closest I could come to understanding what you may be feeling or what these brave families have gone through losing their loved one.
God bless you Beth and you will be in our prayers.
April 14th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Carnival of the Rant - Week Six…
Welcome to another “Carnival of the Rant!†I always search for different images for my blog and for my carnivals. This caught my eye. First because I am into retro, secondly because the past represents a simpler more straightforward time. A time that…
April 15th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Beth …
My daughter just returned from a year working trauma with the 86th CSH in Baghdad … I understand the elephant. It changed me however. Now when we sit down for a meal and all our chairs full, I can’t help but think of those families with empty seats … some temporarily, some forever. You and yours, as well as all in harms way and their families, are in our prayers.
As to the little snots at UC Santa Cruz, they have yet to learn that nothing is free. I’m mindful of the words “Forgive them, they know not what they do”.
Please pass my appreciation to your son for serving our country … and thanks to you for also serving.
John G Wheelock
LTC, USA (Ret)
jgw4miscmail@adelphia.net
April 15th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Thank u for sharing this………always in my thoughts and prayers.