The thankful tree (honoring our fallen heroes this Thanksgiving)

Town Hall column ^ | Wednesday November 23rd, 2005 | Michelle Malkin

[ajolympian2004]

"The thankful tree"

By Michelle Malkin

"So, what did you do in school today?" It's the question I greet my daughter with every afternoon after she returns home from kindergarten. Usually, she recycles three jaded answers delivered with 5-going-on-16-year-old aplomb: "I don't remember," "I did the monkey bars," and "I drank chocolate milk."

This week was different. She came home yesterday bubbling about a new holiday art project: The Thankful Tree. "You trace your hands and cut them out and then you write what you're thankful for on the hands," my enthused daughter explained, "and then you paste them onto a paper tree!" She eagerly recited her thankful list from memory: "Friends. Food. My fish, Rainbow. And my little brother." (Yes, in that order.)

This morning before leaving for school, my daughter decided we should make our own Thankful Tree at home and left me this question to ponder: "What are you thankful for, Mommy?"

Staring at my construction-paper hand, here's what I have written in the palm: Our Troops. And in the five fingers, I've written these names of heroes who we'll honor this Thanksgiving:

Tyrone L. Chisholm, 27, of Savannah, Ga. An Army sergeant and father of two, Chisholm was killed Nov. 11 when a string of roadside bombs exploded near his Abrams tank in Tall Afar, Iraq, along the Syrian border. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Carson, Colo. His aunt, Delores Baron, said: "He was really excited about the Army. He was proud of what he was doing, and he died doing what he wanted to do: serve his country."

Roger W. Deeds, 24, of Biloxi, Miss. A lance corporal in the Marine Corps and father of two, Deeds was among five Marines killed last week during Operation Steel Curtain in Ubaydi, Iraq, a terrorist stronghold also near the Syrian border. His mother, Joyce, said: "The Marine motto is 'Semper Fi -- always faithful.' They have a saying that no one is left behind. And that's how my son died. . . . He was faithful to God, country and family."

James S. Ochsner, 36, of Waukegan, Ill. An Army sergeant 1st class, Ochsner was killed last week when an improvised explosive device detonated near his armored Humvee during a supply distribution mission in Orgun, Afghanistan, near the Pakistani border. "He was going out to distribute some goods to the local people," Ochsner's father, Bob Ochsner of Beach Park, told the Chicago Sun-Times. "He loved the Afghan people; he really enjoyed them," Bob Ochsner said of his son. Sgt. Ochsner believed it was his duty to serve in the armed forces, Bob Ochsner said.

Donald E. Fisher II, 21, of Avon, Mass. An Army corporal from a large military family, he was one of two soldiers killed Nov. 11 when their convoy vehicle was involved in an accident in the northern city of Kirkuk, Iraq. "Even as a young child growing up in Brockton, patriotism surged through Donald E. Fisher II," wrote the Boston Globe. "'We're talking about a kid who, as a kid, cried because someone stole the flag off our flagpole,' Donald Fisher of Tacoma, Wash., said of his son. 'He was very committed.'"

James E. Estep, 26, of Leesburg, Fla. An Army staff sergeant and father of three, he was among four soldiers killed when an improvised explosive device detonated last week near their Humvee in Taji, Iraq, north of Baghdad. "He loved the military," said his brother, Michael. "He loved doing his job." His sister, Becky Buskill, added: "He died for a cause he believed in."

Can we bow our heads in union for one day and give thanks for our men and women who choose to fight, refuse to lose, and believe in their mission? Can we do it without distorting their legacies and pandering to anti-American elites worldwide and using their deaths to embarrass and undermine our commander in chief?

This is my prayer and the start of our new family tradition. In small gestures, deep-rooted gratitude grows.

(Find names and stories of those who have died in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom at Honor the Fallen: http://www.militarycity.com/valor/honor.html).

[ajolympian2004]

THE THANKFUL TREE

By

Michelle Malkin

  ·   November 23, 2005 07:43 AM

My latest column is up.

***

Ken Masugi reflects on Lincoln and Thanksgiving as a public religious holiday.

***
For contrast, take a look at nutball professor Robert Jensen's latest un-Thanksgiving screed.

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[ajolympian2004]

Michelle Malkin ping!

(I'm filling in for 'cgk' while she is away with family for Thanksgiving)

[beyond the sea]

Michelle is excellent as usual.

Indeed, sincere honor to the fallen heroes and their families.

******

To all FReepers and others................ have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

****

Now, here in snowy Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, under all these huge oaks, chestnuts, and maples, I'm going outside with the pets and SHOVEL SOME LEAVES (and snow).

;-)

[freema]

I am most thankful for
1. Faith
2. Family
3. Beauty
4. Love
5. Laughter
...holding in the palm of my hand, my gratitude for our troops, and right up my arm to my heart, this sanctuary of sanity, Free Republic.

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping! (Excellent column by Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin)

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!