Posted on 10/01/2001 7:24:07 AM PDT by MudPuppy
Dear Mothers,
America holds its breath as it awaits word from the president or congress on whether or not we are going to
wage an all out war on terrorism. Some two million Americans serve in the nations military. That means
two million mothers anxiously wait and wonder as to the destiny of their sons and daughters.
Indeed it was tragic what happened on September 11th, 2001. Such an act is incomparable to anything that
has taken place in our history. The event has been likened to Pearl Harbor, however on that day in
1941 it was this nations Naval fleet that was attacked, not thousands of unsuspecting civilians on a
beautiful morning in New York.
All we have been told by our commander in chief is to Be ready. You will be called upon, and you will
make us proud. These words electrified a group a Marines watching a television receiving a broken
satellite signal at three o'clock in the morning in the middle of the Mediterranean. The thought of finally
utilizing years of training in the name of our country in a worldly cause made those Marines feel as
though they were needed, and the training not wasted. An enormous sense of pride rushed through the
ship and caused everyone to take their jobs, their weapons, and their lives more seriously.
Undoubtedly, those very same words sent tremors through the hearts of these two million mothers. One who
is not can only imagine the thoughts and fears of a mother. Most likely those of us who are not will
never be able to even fathom that level of fear derived from that level of love.
President Bush and others have said it will be a long campaign and more likely than not a costly one. Costly.
Another word. This is subject not approached with a word such as "billions". When costs in these
matters are evaluated, words like few, some, and acceptable losses are used. A few hundred? Maybe
a few thousand? Some of them? These mean nothing to a mother whose son or daughter is one of the
few, and the loss is hardly acceptable. The words become ones of resentment and bitterness, and the
mothers cry "why did I have to pay?" History has shown there no sound equaled to that of the mothers'
collective cries. They pain those at home and those abroad. Their sympathy is felt by mothers across
the world watching on their televisions thankful to still have their sons and daughters.
Mothers, I do beg of you to understand. We do not seek violence or death. I look at America and remember
the dozens of times I flew from city to city on commercial airliners. My biggest concern was what was
being served for lunch. Such will never be the same for me again. When the world trade center is
rebuilt I will never be able to look upon it without shuddering and seeing the ghastly images we have
born witness to in the past week. But my children will never truly know what we endured as children
should not. The next generation should know the word "terrorism" as a fantasy. Something that took
place in another land many years before and should never fall prey to the fear that flows through us
now. The world, this nation, this military now has the direction and the power to put an end to this. Not
to merely achieve justice for what has happened but to prevent anything like this from happening again.
Mothers, your sons and your daughters now have the power to help and to make this a reality. It was us
who signed the contract swearing to "protect this country from enemies foreign and domestic." This
generation thanks you for sparing us the fears of a global nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. We thank you
for not having to worry about a raid through Europe by the Warsaw Pact. We thank you for fighting the
war against communism and raising us in an almost entirely democratic world. Now this generation has
its own fight. This generation is ready.
We will lay down our lives if it comes to that. If it takes me and a thousand or five thousand of my brethren to
make that possible so be it. If that is what it takes to know that when OUR sons and daughters board a
plane their biggest fear is turbulence, then it will be done. We will make that sacrifice. Despite what
many believe, our generation is aware of what that word means and we will make silence the criticism
that has characterized our generation.
Mothers, your sons and daughters fight for you, and for their country. Your sons and daughters love you.
Your sons and daughters wish only for what we have wanted since our conception. We wish to make
you proud.
All my love,
Lance Corporal Timothy G. Apel USMC
0331 Machine gunner
Any formatting or typos are mine. I have his email and snail mail address which I will give out if you Freepmail me.
Sleep well America - the Marines are on duty!
Snow Bunny, look! Here's a Semper Fi BUMP to you friend.
The Corps Spirit lives on, generation to generation, and we who LIVED and still live it,
understand, and *salute* this brother.
I hope you will send this thread to him when it is finished, with our deepest respect for his link in the ongoing chain.
What a great letter. You always ping me for the good stuff. Thank you.
Semper Fi
USMC 2nd Force Recon (Scout Sniper ’67 – ’73)
Freedom isn't free
Semper Fidelis
P.S. Ma, if we DON'T do this, we could never look in you or dad's eye ever again; not without seeing shame reflected. Could you really look at me the same, if I came home directly? We do this, as much for ourselves; as for you. Live free, and don't let our sacrifice have been in vain.
To me, this is the best part of his letter. Thanks for posting this.
Bump
Voting and ceremonies here at Free Republic on October 24, 2001 in honor [choke] of the United Nations 56th Anniversary.
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