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Open Letter to All Mothers
email | 23 Sep 2001 | LCpl Timothy G. Apel

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


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS:
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To: dpa5923
Agreed. Bump.
21 posted on 10/02/2001 8:15:59 AM PDT by .30Carbine
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To: MudPuppy
Thank you for this beautiful letter, MudPuppy. I'm copying it out and sending it to my sister who has a son in the Marines. He's a jet mechanic.

Semper Fi!

22 posted on 10/02/2001 8:19:36 AM PDT by Slip18
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To: MudPuppy
BUMP...BUMP!

Semper Fi, Devil Dog!

23 posted on 10/02/2001 8:37:58 AM PDT by Truelove
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To: MudPuppy
If this Marine is anywhere near as good with his machine gun as he is with his pen (or keyboard as it may be), I'd say this Lance Corporal needs a promotion to Corporal.

Semper Fi

24 posted on 10/02/2001 9:06:57 AM PDT by FormerLurker
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To: CHIEF negotiator
Great Post CHIEF ! Thank you so much.
25 posted on 10/02/2001 11:20:26 AM PDT by Snow Bunny
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To: MudPuppy
God Bless him and his Mother!
26 posted on 10/02/2001 11:24:13 AM PDT by World'sGoneInsane
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To: MudPuppy
Mud:
I served with a fellow MARINE in 1947 on Guadacanal and Guam by the name of Apel. It would be good to know if this might be the grandson of that MARINE. I do not remember his first name though, age has a way to erase some past events and names.

Have a good evening and the very best to you and yours.

Semper Fi
Tommie

27 posted on 10/02/2001 6:37:15 PM PDT by Texican
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To: semaj; libertina;Shukendesu; Justin Thyme;sean327;Norb2569
send this Marine some motivating mail:

LCpl Timothy G Apel
2/8 WPNS Co CAAT1 Plt
Camp Lejuene, NC 28542

Semper Fi!

28 posted on 10/04/2001 9:10:32 AM PDT by MudPuppy
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To: MudPuppy
BUMP. That's a great idea. And it is time to get out those letters to "Every Serviceman" as well. I went looking for a great quote I heard today, but haven't found it yet. About Peace being important enough to fight for. If successful, I will post later, Until then, God Bless our Military!
29 posted on 10/04/2001 9:55:12 PM PDT by Libertina
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To: Big Marine; dcwusmc; rightwingextremist1776; Coop; SENTINEL
Bump for your attention

Please get out those ink sticks and drop this Marine a letter

Semper Fi

30 posted on 10/16/2001 1:04:48 PM PDT by MudPuppy
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To: MudPuppy
Thanks, mudpuppy, for the ping. 'Preciate it!

Semper fi!!!

31 posted on 10/16/2001 6:35:06 PM PDT by dcwusmc
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To: dcwusmc; Angelique; tame; Alamo-Girl; backhoe; Hugh Akston; Ragtime Cowgirl; LarryLied...
This needs a whole lot more ping work ... many may have missed it the first time through, so I'm pinging all of you great Freepers to ask that you just give this threqad a ping during the next few days. Thanks so much ... and thank you, Lance Corporal Timothy G. Apel USMC, 0331 Machine gunner. Semper Fi, Marine, you and your fellows are in our prayers.
32 posted on 10/22/2001 10:26:27 AM PDT by MHGinTN
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To: MHGinTN
Thanks Marvin. Great letter.


33 posted on 10/22/2001 11:01:37 AM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: MHGinTN; cyn; TrueBeliever9; Republic; Victoria Delsoul; William Wallace; Sabertooth...
This is beautiful. Thank you for the flag. I would like to ask praying Freepers for prayers for David, a Marine, (my husband's cousin) and especially for David's mother and his wife, and of course, all other military personnel and families. Thank you.
34 posted on 10/22/2001 11:05:54 AM PDT by Prodigal Daughter
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To: MHGinTN
Thanks for the bump. Touching letter and well stated.

patent

35 posted on 10/22/2001 11:07:03 AM PDT by patent
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To: MHGinTN
Bump for reading shortly. Thanks for the ping, MHG!
36 posted on 10/22/2001 11:27:11 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Libertina
I went looking for a great quote

How's this one?

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”

MM

37 posted on 10/22/2001 11:30:56 AM PDT by MississippiMan
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To: Prodigal Daughter; CheneyChick; vikingchick; WIMom; one_particular_harbour; kmiller1k...
Lump in the throat bump
38 posted on 10/22/2001 11:36:14 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: MudPuppy
SALUTE
To All Marines
from a tin can sailor
39 posted on 10/22/2001 11:47:39 AM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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To: Sabertooth
Thanks for the flag.
40 posted on 10/22/2001 11:50:00 AM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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