Well said Mom. Very enlightening as well. As a parent with a son in Iraq now, I can empathize with your feeling of pride, yet there is also fear. Your letter should be read by all media, unfortunately it probably wont even be given a second thought by most of the media. Its not something that would "stir the pot" enough.
Though well written and definitely from the heart of someone who has seen another side of the "greiving mom". Apparently she had her greiving moments....and now she just wants her glory at the expense of those who still serve and those who we still mourn the loss of. The Media is looking for stories that would turn the hearts away from supporting the cause...like Cindeeeee....not the facts or the true hearts.....but more fiction than fact, and more heartless than heartfelt.
The more sinister they can make it sound, the more the story sells. We had a "peace" activist show up at our Military Family Support Group here in town last week, looking for support for their "Peace Rally" this past weekend. The things they were trying to tell us about, were questioned by all of us parents of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan....their response was "its what we read someplace". THey could not remember where they read it or who they heard it from....but not one of them apparently had heard it from the soldiers who are in the field. They take what they read in the papers and take it for 100% fact, when in reality we all know that there might be about 2% fact....the rest is written in to sell the story.
After we discounted each of their "facts" with what we know to be true from our own experiences and what we have heard from the front lines...they still had the gall to hand each of us a flyer and ask if we would be interested in showing up for their rally.
I shoved mine back at them and said " You apparently cant hear very well.....not only do I personally support the troops and their mission, I own and run a company that focuses completely on encouraging others to support the troops, show their patriotism and honor our Veterans. All of us here have given you our perspective which does not match your view of "reality", except ours is based on facts that we have gathered from the source and through personal experience not heresay gathered through the media."
The "peace" activist left at that point and we went on with our meeting....but we did notice one thing, The cards we had been passing around to sign to send to the troops was never signed by her. Altough at one point she did say that she too supported the troops....go figure. I just wonder, how can they say they support the troops yet do so much to demoralize them?
Mom, please pass on to your soldiers our sincerest gratitude for their service. They have our utmost respect and we stand behind them 100%. They are doing a job that not everyone can or will do so that the rest of us can sleep in our beds at night. Our prayers are truly with them an with your family here at home. If you would please add their names to our Wall of Heroes we would be honored. (if you have not done so already)
God Bless
Please, please thank him for his service to all of us.
Your post is beautiful, as well.
America is full of good, good people. Too bad seriously disturbed bad apples get all the press.
God bless you, your family and your son for your sacrifices and service to our nation. Because of meeting people like you at FR, my pride in this country grows every day.