Posted on 03/03/2003 9:26:58 PM PST by BenLurkin
LANCASTER -- Karen Perez of Lancaster wouldn't commit to march at a February peace rally in Hollywood with her mother and sister, at least not until she heard from her son, Navy Corpsman Lonnie Lewis.
Lewis was aboard the USS Boxer, a Wasp class multipurpose amphibious assault ship, loaded with Marines and Navy personnel on their way to Kuwait.
"I wrote an e-mail to him, telling him what I was thinking of doing, and he wrote back the most amazing e-mail," said Perez, seated in the living room of her Lancaster home with daughters Tonya Lewis and Ashley Perez and Tonya's 2-year-old daughter, Sierra.
"He wrote from his heart. What he wrote he truly believes. I wrote him back "… once again, you amaze me, son …"
In his e-mail, Lewis told his mom it was her decision to march or not, and that she was the one "who has to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not."
He wrote that he was a United States soldier, sworn to defend his country against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
"… terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to many other innocent people in the world. What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and freedoms of others … We now know that (terrorism) can happen to anyone at any time. Yet, as Americans, we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our security. I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy expense to ensure that my family and friends can live in peace. …We, as soldiers, are not afraid of what may happen, we are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand why we are here…
"I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us. I ask for your understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support in what we are sworn to do -- defend our country, and the life of all. … I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love. My family is first, my country is where they live. I will defend it."
She chose not to march.
Only if she went to one of the Commie Rallies. If she went to one of the "Support our Troops" rallies, she should feel just fine, other than worrying about her son. Navy corpsmen go in with the Marines you know. Not all of them, but plenty of them.
Good luck, Swabbie and may your services be rarely needed for anything beyond sand flea bites.
This is a divided family. Half patriots, half idiots. It was a Leftie "peace" (Anti-War) Rally the mom wouldn't march in, but the Swabbie's grandmother and sister DID march in it. What kind of grandmother and sister would be marching with a group opposing what their loved one was fighting for? This young man is far more understanding than I would be under the circumstances.
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