After Friends & Family Celebrate Soldier's Life, his Mother Blasts Pres Bush Over Son's Death

Des Moines Register via AP | 11/14/03 | Don Babwin (AP)

[PLK]

Genoa, Ill. - In a memorial service almost devoid of the military trappings that have become so familiar with those of other soldiers killed in Iraq, Army 1st Lt. Brian Slavenas was remembered Thursday as a gentle man.

"I met him as a freshman in high school and I never heard him put another kid down," said Phil Heinisch of Decatur, one of nine friends who told humorous and sometimes touching stories about Slavenas.

Slavenas, 30, was one of 16 soldiers killed in Iraq earlier this month when the Chinook helocopter he was piloting was shot down.

Also killed were Iowans, Sgt. Paul Fisher, 39, Marion, and Chief Warrant Officer Bruce Smith, 41, West Liberty.

More than 200 people, including Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, packed into Faith United Methodist Church, and a few dozen more listened to the 70-minute service in the church basement.

Although there were several soldiers in uniform in the church, Slavenas' casket was covered with flowers, not an American flag. One of the few military traditions was the playing of "Taps" outside of the church after a brief service at the cemetery nearby.

Outside the church, Slavenas' mother gave a blistering attack on President Bush.

"George Bush killed my son," said Rosemary Dietz Slavenas, whom friends described as an anti-war activist before her son was killed.

"I believe my son Brian died not for his country but because of our country's lack of a coherent and civilized foreign policy," she said.

If her anger spilled out outside the service, inside, there was no sign of anger or tension.

It was a sometimes somber ceremony, but for the most part it was a celebration of Slavenas' life. Downstairs, mourners watched a slide show of Slavenas in various stages of his life - as a Little Leaguer, an elementary school student, an adult with his father and a soldier.

There were stories about playing basketball, flying, his devotion to weightlifting, his sense of humor and his mischievous side.

They told small stories, the kind friends tell over and over. The kind told at the kitchen table, stories friends already know by heart but still want to hear. They told about small gestures that said something much larger about Slavenas.

Ed Rubeck, 31, of Rochelle, told of the day the two met when they were 5.

"He told me the 'S' on the seat of his Schwinn bicycle stood for Slavenas," he said.

[PLK]

Sad that his mother would so dishonor her own son.

(Apologize for lack of a URL - I scoured the DM Register website and could not locate the story.)

[IronJack]

You got it right. THis kind of public venom is a discredit to her son's sacrifice. Too bad she, unlike so much of AMerica, can't appreciate that. Her spite will consume her.

[jocon307]

"Sad that his mother would so dishonor her own son."

Yes, well, flame me if you wish, but her son is lucky to be dead, because his mother and those like her are damned & determined to ruin this country. And with the help of Allah and his minions they may yet succeed.

This woman is a disgrace, she should be re-located to Saudi Arabia immediately, then she can see how interested folks there are to see what she has to say.

[doug from upland]

God rest your soul, Brian. You are one of the many heroes throughout our history who allow us to live in freedom.

To the grieving parents, I am sorry for the loss of your son. It is an unimaginable heartbreak that, thank the Lord, I have not had to experience. It would be devasting. It is a shame, however, that his courage and sacrifice for this great nation was dishonored. Brian knew, and his mom apparently didn't, that the survival of our civilization is at stake. The world changed on 9-11 forever. More accurately, it probably changed on the first WTC hit but we didn't realize it. Thank God for George W. Bush, a man who does realize it. The death of Brian and the others, I am certain, affects him greatly.

[IncPen]

I won't flame you.

"George Bush killed my son," said Rosemary Dietz Slavenas, whom friends described as an anti-war activist before her son was killed.

This woman may want to go to New York to talk to some fire or police widows of 911, or visit with Todd Beamer's wife, to gain an understanding of what her son saw as "his duty".

If you believe in God, you may also believe He uses our lives and the lives of others to teach us His word.

This woman would do well to contemplate what was the lesson (to her) of her son's life.

[marty60]

I'm sure her son is crying in heaven. His own Mother trashing his memory. But, liberals meaness and cruelty are legend.

[freekitty]

Yes it is; and it is also sad that some have turned it into a political circus.

I am sorry this boy was killed during this war. There were so many killed in the other wars and look how many people those dictators killed?

The press and others involved in this political circus are despicable for their shameless promotion of this boy's and others deaths. Are human beings worth so little?

[Cacophonous]

It's awfully easy to be critical of the woman without being in her shoes. I know from experience that the loss of a loved one brings out all sorts of irrational and confusing thoughts and ideas, and I can imagine loss via combat would compound it. I would wager in a few weeks or months she will have calmed down, and had a chance to clear her head, and will be more rational.

Instead of calling her a traitor or chastising her for an entirely emotional response, why not offer sympathy and support?

[MEG33]

I honor the service and the sacrifice of Lt.Slavenas.I hope the day will come when no parent uses a son's death in his chosen profession as a platform for their political stance.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

That sounds exactly like the pure liberal BS we are being fed constantly by the media. Kumbaya somewhere else please.

[Tribune7]

Instead of calling her a traitor or chastising her for an entirely emotional response, why not offer sympathy and support?

Very true. It is proper to damn the AP for reporting her statements, however. There was no reason for this story to be on the wires.

[MEG33]

If she were not an anti war activist,I wouldn't have said a word about her.I have always given any grieving parent a pass.

[gg188]

And if Dubya had NOT aggressively gone after the terrorist snakes in their swamps of Iraq and Afghanistan, and there had been another 9-11 in '02 or '03, this same woman would have said, "I blame Bush for an incoherent foreign policy and allowing this attack on the USA blah blah blah."

[Cacophonous]

I agree with that.

[dts32041]

Typical rat from the blue zone, would have been perfectly happy at the paul wellstone campaign.

May allah bless and keep her.

[Cacophonous]

It's purely liberal to offer sympathy and support to a family that has just lost a loved one?

[Cacophonous]

I didn't know you said anything....my post was not to you anyway.

[MEG33]

#9

[JoeSixPack1]

Cry me a river! This OFFICER, 1st Lt. was denied his burial rights by his own mother, and that he probably ran away from her to join the military service.

She has disrespected her own son's honor to advance her misguided politics.

No sympathy for mom.



RIP, 1st Lt. Slavenas. You gave all for your country and all of the USA owes you respect.

[The Brush]

I heard about this story on the radio. Apparently this woman is divorced from her son's father. His dad was in the military and wanted a military funeral for the son, the mom didn't which explains the absence of a flag but the playing of taps.
The mom said that her son had tried to get out of the army before.