America - One Family

The fight for freedom in this country has been long, painful and ongoing. As we approach Veterans Day, it is time for all Americans to come together as a single voice in support of our military service men and women along with their family members. As a child of a veteran of the U.S. Navy who fought in the Vietnam conflict, it has always been disheartening for me that the public seldom gives much thought to those who serve to defend our freedom we so take for granted in this country. When American soldiers were brutally killed at the Beirut embassy, their lifeless bodies dragged through the streets of Somalia, and when our men and women were killed in the embassy bombings in Africa, the American people let out a collective gasp at the horror but almost immediately went on living their normal lives as if all was forgotten. Soon, all was forgotten and Americans went on living their normal lives while only immediate military family members, friends of the soldiers and the military community continued to grieve.

The purpose of this letter is to remind all Americans we are all one "family" including our soldiers. In addition to being soldiers, these men and women are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers as well. On September 11, 2001, when foreign terrorists impacted many civilian lives, the American people along with the rest of the world were outraged. I cannot help but wonder why the loss of civilian lives created so much more of an outrage than the loss of the lives of our soldiers who continue to serve and protect this country on a daily basis.