I walked through the parking lot and into the church, not knowing what to expect.
“We are asking that everyone walk past, pay your respects and then find your seats” the usher said.
I was attending the funeral for my friend’s brother. He was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 13th, 2010.
His last letter home said this, “There are IED’s everywhere…It’s an eerie feeling knowing that your next step could be your last.” It was an IED that took him out of this world and into the next. He was only 22 years old.
I walked into the church and past the casket. Remembering the brief conversation, we had a few months prior to his deployment. Although everyone is aware that war will impact the country, no one ever expects that impact to hit so close to home.
For me, this was the loss of a friendship that would never grow. For his family, it was the loss of an identical twin brother, the loss of a son, the loss of an uncle, the loss of a nephew, the loss of a grandson.
“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out and meet it.” -Thucydides
Those who go into combat surely are the bravest. They have counted the cost. And we, as citizens of the country they gave their life for, should forever be grateful for their sacrifice. For those families who have lost loved ones on the battlefield for our freedom, we want to say we are deeply sorry for the loss of your loved one and we are deeply grateful for your sacrifice.
“To know how to free oneself is nothing; the arduous thing is to know what to do with one’s freedom.” – Andre Gide
It is because of the freedom we have in this country that we are able to fight for the unborn in Broward County. It is because of the sacrifice of so many families that we are able to have a voice for the voiceless.
We have freedom to fight for lives because of the sacrificed lives of so many before us.
Today, we at Hope Women’s Centers want you to know, we weep with you. Freedom is the costliest commodity that we have in this country. We don’t take you, your family; or, your loved ones sacrifice for granted.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for paving the way of freedom, so we can fight for the freedom of the unborn.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke
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