Posted on 06/09/2009 8:22:02 PM PDT by gandalftb
The day before he died, U.S. Army Pvt. William Andrew "Andy" Long floated the Buffalo River with his sister, Vanessa Rice.
Rice tearfully told guests: "My brother meant the world to me. Andy couldn't wait to get to Korea to serve his country."
Long was killed outside a recruiting office.
The church was filled with family and friends, armed service members, and officials, including Gov. Mike Beebe and Rep. Vic Snyder.
Long is a fourth-generation armed services member. Long's father, Daris Long, is retired from the Marine Corps.
"No one is more military, no one is more patriotic than this family right here," "I asked Daris what's the one word he'd use to describe Andy, and he said two: soldier and hero."
Long's father shared a letter to his son: "You and your brother ... are both heroes for having the moral courage to stand up when your country needs you most," Daris Long read. "You are in my hopes and my thoughts and my prayers. You are my son, you are my hero. I love you. Semper fidelis."
Pfc. Triston Long gave Long the cavalry branch insignia badge on behalf of his own unit.
"My commander said, 'Make your brother one of us."
Long also was honored with the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
The Arkansas Blue Star Mothers presented Long's mother, Janet Long, with the Gold Star Banner, given to mothers of service members killed in the line of duty.
Arkansas Army National Guard Honor Guard served as pallbearers. After the playing of taps, they presented American flags to Long's mother, brother and sister.
Dozens of leather-vested veterans of the Patriot Guard Riders lined up outside the church, then surrounded the family with their motorcycles at the cemetery. Beebe issued a proclamation Friday directing U.S. and Arkansas flags be flown at half-staff Monday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nwanews.com ...
But, these soldiers were in combat. The WOT theater is the Planet Earth. They were attacked by our jihadist enemy, no military difference from our troops killed where-ever from Iraq to the Beirut Marine Barracks to the USS Cole.
These fine young soldiers were in uniform, on active duty, in combat, in theater, with the enemy.
It is a matter of duty that they should be awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge, at the least.
If the enemy knows no battlefield boundaries.
Why would we?
Would the FR community join me in petitioning for FULL military honors to recognize their battlefield sacrifice?
Purple Hearts for sure. They were injured in combat.
Rest you hero. Die you Muslim filth.
You will be heros to us who care.
I agree, the Purple Heart is certainly in order here. I'm very skeptical that this DOD will award it as that would have some political ramifications.
Incidentally, when Bush was President, we were told ad nauseam that he didn't attend any military funerals. I wonder when Obama will attend his first military funeral. After all, with the uptick in violence in both Iraq and Afghanistan (and the US apparently), it isn't for a lack of funerals to attend.
P!ss on any lousy sonovabitch that supports or cheers for Muslim terrorists.
Well stated.
Condolences to the family and friends of U.S. Army Pvt. William Andrew “Andy” Long. America’s finest. R.I.P. sir.
On Laura Ingram’s radio program today, she had as her honored guest the father of Private Long. It was a very moving as she spent time talking with his father. Even in his grief he was strong.
Anyone who would like to send a card in honor of this fallen soldier in the war on terrorism, here is the address:
US Army Recruiting Office
9112 North Rodney Parham Road
Suite 133
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
I sent a card Monday, the day of his funeral.
We must show the heart of the American people is mourning for Private Long. The father said The Army itself has been very supportive. Even as the C-in-C has been his usual boorish self.
This story of Pvt Long has broken my heart more than I can say.
He was murdered in cold blood in his hometown, small town America, for God’s sake. His parents knew the military would be risky, but would they ever think that their son would be killed just down the street from where he grew up?
And then, that Usurping piece of whitehouse trash is completely silent after this, even though he condemned Tiller’s murder within hours (as he should). The abortion clinics then got protection, but no protection for our recruiting centers? Even though there has been constant threat of attacks by left wing wackos?
Instead, the Usurper goes to Egypt on his apology tour, not wanting to offend the enemy by condemning this murder.
The commander in chief is supposed to protect and respect our soldiers, Americas most precious resource. I thank soldiers every time I see them. I owe them my life and liberty.
God bless Pvt Long and his family.
God help us to escape the evil of the corrupt, lying, racist Usurper trash.
How disgusting is it to realize that the scumbag that took the life of this fine soldier was the same age, 23.
These are the days that test the belief in God...why take the good and leave the bad! HE knows, he needed another great leader in his paradise!!
Prayers and love to his family who none of us know, but know somehow in our own experiences in life and death, especially those who sacrificied for our country
It was not long ago when you and I looked up into the sky on September 12th and begged our Lord and Savior to restore sanity to our beloved nation....it was heartbreaking to realize that we were literally paralyzed in a state of fear of what more was to come...God Bless our Military..because they knew that it was just a matter of time and they would reign hell and fury on all that disrupted and hurt their fellow Americans...
Only thing is...their fellow Americans let them down with their immature Idol lives they live...SAD and DISGUSTING AS IT MAY BE...I swear, some Americans have to be proved WRONG AGAIN, in a greater tragedy to put their support in front of their own country!!!
I'm still waiting to hear that he's gone to Walter Reed to comfort and give emotional support to our wounded heros.
God Bless 'em.
I haven't heard a thing about him going to visit any wounded serviceman after the election. To be fair, I know GWB and Laura (and the Cheney's for that matter) both went with some regularity, but it was almost never reported. So, I suppose he could have gone.
I have a feeling, however, if Obama would have gone it would have made the worship channels.
There was an absolutely fantastic interview of “Andy’S” Dad on Laura Ingraham this morning. She has about 7 minutes of it linked up for free, the whole interview is on the paid side (c’mon, Laura, put it all out there).
Really, a must-listen:
Love your last sentence. Might have to steal that as a tag if you don’t mind
You have my support on this - we are fighting a “global” WOT, not just one taking place in Afghanistan or Iraq.
I agree totally.
BTTT
This newspaper tribute is well written, sensitive and avoids mentioning the name of the swine that murdered PFC Long.
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