Posted on 08/17/2005 1:56:34 PM PDT by Kaslin
Natalie Healy made a decision this summer after losing her son in war-torn Afghanistan.
"I can't go to those mountains and climb them and I can't shoot a gun," she said. "But I can do everything I can to make sure we stay the course, and if that means speaking out, then that's what I want to do."
Less than two months after the death of her son, Navy SEAL Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy, the Exeter mother and small business owner is following through on her word.
Healy is making her feelings known in response to the nation's interest in a California mother who has camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the war in Iraq. Cindy Sheehan's 24-year-old son was killed in Iraq last year.
Healy said she initially sympathized with the grief-stricken mom. Now, however, as Sheehan's message continues to fill the airwaves, Healy said she fears a backlash against the war on terrorism.
"It's sort of like a tidal wave," Healy said. "And it's gaining and gaining and gaining. And I'm not sure what will stop it, to tell you the truth.
"My big concern is that the enemy will use Cindy Sheehan to their benefit. They will point to her and say, 'See? See how this American is calling the President a murderer? See how they're going to start weakening from within?'"
Healy said she was booked to speak on MSNBC's "Hardball" with Chris Matthews last night. The interview got bumped just a few hours before the show, she said.
But Healy said spreading her voice to support the war effort is her "new mission in life."
"I'm hoping, by having another mother who's lost a son speaking out loudly and strongly, that the troops will hear it and be heartened by it," she said. "Because we all know how they're always shocked when they get home and they find out what has been reported."
Several national polls show that a majority of Americans now consider the decision to invade Iraq a mistake. Healy herself said she initially had doubts about the war. She is now convinced the United States cannot leave Iraq just yet.
"The fact of the matter is, at this stage in the game, we're over there," she said. "We have to complete the mission."
Healy said she doubted Sheehan's son, Casey, would support his mother's mission.
Rather, she said, "I think my son would be happy that I was trying to remind people that we have to stay the course. We have to, without a doubt. And I know he'd be saying, 'OK, mom. Good. Good, mom.'"
Healy recognized the public's opinion of the Iraqi conflict is not the same as its opinion of the war in Afghanistan, where her son died June 28. Daniel Healy, a 36-year-old father of four, was one of 16 soldiers killed when insurgents shot down their helicopter.
But Healy said the two conflicts are part of the same war on terrorism, and it's a war the U.S. must continue to fight.
"I think fighting for freedom in Iraq and fighting for freedom in Afghanistan is one and the same," she said.
Healy is hopeful that the public will hear both sides in the debate over pulling U.S. troops from Iraq. It would be harmful, she said, if Sheehan's voice carried the day.
"I just don't want it to be the only story," Healy said. "I want the other voices to be heard so that the young men that fought with my son — that were broken-hearted from all their buddies getting killed — will know somebody else is speaking out for them. And maybe they won't be heard as much as Cindy Sheehan, but there's somebody trying, anyway."
..."I'm sure the MSM will beat a path to her door with cameras."...
You didn't hear about it this evening on All Things Considered? They did a 15 minute piece on how this womans son was a patriot and they ended with the camera crew singing God Bless America while Nina Tokendubber saluted the flag.
I was in tears.
Good one. Tongue, meet cheek. Push hard.
Almost got me, there. ;-)
Are you kidding?
You forgot this
< /sarcasm>
I'm going to get flamed for this, but Shawn Hannity is the best bet.
Here's a great article about her, from the Union Leader:
"ANTI-WAR protester Cindy Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq last year, is camped outside President Bush's ranch demanding that he meet with her again. And the big media are right there with her. Will they devote similar resources to Exeter resident Natalie Healy, mother of killed Navy SEAL Daniel Healy and vocal war supporter?
"Natalie Healy is home running her business, so her message will be harder to get out. Also a hindrance will be the content of the message: She considers the War on Terror worth fighting.
" 'My big concern is that the enemy will use Cindy Sheehan to their benefit,' she told the Union Leader...."
Yes, she brought tears to my eyes and put a lump in my throat. You could hear the respect in Rush's voice when he spoke with her.
Oh my. You have my condolences for the loss of your friend.
maybe she should go to Texas...
maybe take up a donation to send her to Texas?
1.2 million for Cindy vs 33 for Natalie Healy. I don't know what bias your talking about. Why that's simply a ratio of 36,363 to 1. MSM's call that 'balance'. </sarc>
Thanks for the ping.
she MUST be at the H.O.T. rally on the 27th... its a MUST
anyone here from New Hampshire that can find out if she is interested in going?
God bless this patriot mom.
"These anti-everything leftists say that they have a right to speak. Well, so the hell do I."
Amen. Amen.
AR-USAF (Former)
Thank you for posting this. God bless Natalie Healy.
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