Lewis Crest NA

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June 01, 2004

Email Regarding Memorial Day

I received the following email from Bill Wortman on Sunday May 30. I can only presume that he signed on to the LCNA News website and read the Memorial Day article that I had posted a couple of days earlier. This article can be found here.

Mr. Wortman lives a "stones throw" from the Lewis Crest area and I can only presume he checks in our website now and again to see what's happening in our "neck of the woods.". After reading his email, I thought it only fair to share it with the rest of the neighborhood. Here is his email in it's entirety. Hopefully you'll get something out of it like I did.........

Dear Bobby,

I wanted to take some time and share with you my thoughts this Memorial Day Weekend. As our homeland lies under direct threat like no other time in our history and our soldiers fight on two fronts to protect us, this national holiday takes on solemn significance. We pause to reflect and honor the memory of those departed who have served our country in the uniforms of our armed forces.

I served in the U.S. Navy with people who came from all walks of life, from every corner of this great land of ours. They were fathers, sons, friends, and neighbors. They were all ordinary people - living ordinary lives - who were asked to make extraordinary sacrifices in extraordinary times, for their country. They answered her call for a higher purpose - to preserve liberty, justice, equality, and the right to live in a world free from tyranny.

But the fact remains that Memorial Day is more than a holiday - it is a day when our nation should express gratitude to the soldiers who give real meaning to the word "hero." Sadly, the unprovoked terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, was a reminder that we must never take our bountiful blessings or our freedom for granted.

The Americans we honor today loved the ideals and values upon which this nation was founded. I am proud to say that our fighting men and women continue to live those values, values like loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

The conduct of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan demonstrates their commitment to these enduring values as they restore liberty and human dignity to those who suffered under oppressive regimes. Often, they put their own lives at risk to protect the lives of innocents and avoid civilian casualties.

I would like to remember Pat Tillman, the professional football player who turned his back on millions of dollars for playing a game. He chose to risk his life as a front line combat soldier in the Army Rangers. He served a year in Iraq, when he returned home last Christmas he could have chosen an assignment anywhere in the world. Because Tillman had seen so much combat he was even eligible for an early discharge. His sports agent said teams were beating down the door and he could have him on the football field in time for spring mini-camp. Instead Pat Tillman signed up for a tour of duty back on the front lines, but this time in Afghanistan, where he lost his life in a firefight.

Pat Tillman understood the threat to our nation. He also knew the best way to defend America was to take the fight to the enemy?s soil. Many brave young men have made the same sacrifice. What singles out Pat Tillman is this interesting fact: When Pearl Harbor was bombed there were 5800 professional athletes in the United States. By March of 1942, 5400 had enlisted in military service. On September 11, 2001 over 13,000 young Americans were professional athletes only one enlisted for military service, Pat Tillman.

The words that adorn the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, where some of our heroes are interred, also speak volumes about the bravery and valor of the men and women who risked their lives for our nation.

"Not for fame or reward, not for place or rank, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in simple obedience to duty as they understood it, these men suffered all, sacrificed all, dared all and died."

May the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country live forever in our memories. And may we honor them by doing everything we can to protect freedom for future generations, whenever, and wherever, it is threatened.

Sincerely.

Bill Wortman

Side Note: I contacted Mr. Wortman about getting his permission to post this email. Here's his reply to my request--

Thanks for your response. Feel free to use the piece as you see fit. I am running against John Sullivan in the republican primary and need all the name recognition I can get. I am for lower spending to facilitate lower taxes - cutting taxes without cutting spending just means our kids and grandkids get higher taxes. Also, as a veteran, I feel very grateful for the sacrifice our forebearers gave for our liberty, which we need to protect.