So the bonus of being married to a wonderful woman is that I also got two fantastic brothers-in-law. The older one posted the following in 2006 on Memorial Day about the younger one, and reposted it this year. He has given me permission to repost it here, for which I am very grateful. Thank you both for being my brothers and for keeping me cognizant of what Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and being an American are all about.
"5:10:44 PM EDT
On Behalf Of A Grateful Nation
This is later than normal for me, but I was celebrating Memorial Day the traditional American way: at the beach, with the family. However, one member of the family was noticeably absent, my younger brother Steve. Steve is a career soldier in the Army, and during the last 12 years, he has been stationed a various Forts throughout the U.S., and has even been deployed to Korea (twice). He has also spent a year in Iraq, specifically in Ramadi, located at the very heart of the “Sunni Triangle of Death”. During his time in Iraq, my brother survived an IED attack, participated in countless patrols, and upon his return to the states, was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in a combat zone. I am very proud of my brother and his service to this Country, but Memorial Day is not about honoring the survivors of war; it is about honoring the ones that made the ultimate sacrifice.
In a combat zone, a soldier is not afforded the luxury of debating U.S. foreign policy or how best to deal with terrorists. There is no room for the lofty ideals of diplomats, or the blind ambitions of politicians. There is no time to debate ideological differences, or the justifications for war. In a combat zone, a soldier doesn’t care how history will judge this war; a soldier has time to think about only two things: life and death. Though it is not fair, there is only the stark reality of war: some of the best people do not come back.
On March 04, 2005, four members of my brother’s unit were killed by an IED while on patrol in Ramadi. My brother, who was on the same patrol, did not see the attack; but he heard and felt it. He knew from the power of the explosion, that someone had died, but it wasn’t until later that he would learn the particulars. Killed in action were SFC Donald Eacho, CPT Sean Grimes, SPC Wade Twyman, and SPC Stephen McGowan. These men represented the best of what America has to offer, and they should not be relegated to mere statistics. To honor their memory, my brother’s unit commissioned the creation of a bracelet that was dedicated to these fine young men. To this day, Steve wears his bracelet, not as a sign of mourning, but as a celebration of their lives. To some, it may only be a simple reminder of what was lost that day, but to my brother, it is a complex token of the brotherhood forged by the horrors of combat.
War is never the only option, but sometimes it is the best option. Whether or not this is the case in Iraq, is irrelevant. To discuss the validity of this war, on this date, would dishonor the memory of these men. At least we have the luxury to openly disagree with the powers that be; at least we can scream at the top of our lungs our disapproval for the whole world to hear. And why do we have these freedoms? It’s because so many fine young men and women have given their lives in defense our rights, our ideals, our Nation. So on behalf of a grateful Nation, I say thank you for your sacrifice; your life, and death, will never be forgotten.
Original post date: June 1, 2006"
Posted on 05/29/2007 by tmar2502 at From the Write.
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