American Legion News

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Veteran's Day Speech - 2004

Writer Cynthia Ozick once said,

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

Freedom.

Our Constitution.

A good job.

A wonderful family.

And today we gather on this special day to celebrate yet another that should be on that list - Our military veterans.

Perhaps you came out of curiosity or as a visible sign of respect to a relative or friend or simply because you are a military veteran and this is your day.

By honoring veterans we remember their valor - and we reflect on why they fought.

Veterans fought to preserve the values of America.

They fought to preserve our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

They fought because our country asked them to take up arms. They went where they were sent. Did what they had to do. And, prayed they would survive and return home to family and friends.

Some did not. We remember them with solemn ceremonies every Memorial Day.

However, Veterans Day is for those veterans who are still here. Men and women who are making a difference now in communities like ours around the nation.

Today there are nearly 25 million American veterans less than half of them are over the age of 65.

Look around us. Where are the younger veterans?

Most likely, they are at work right now - making a difference for tomorrow.

They are teachers.

Law enforcement officers.

Doctors. Nurses. Engineers.

Name the skill - you'll find veterans working there.

We understand - that they need to be working today. But, in years to come - when you and I are no longer alive - they will be here. They will not forget us, just as we do not forget those who came before us.

Historically, the celebration of this day is anchored in marking the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 - the time the guns fell silent to end "the Great War."

Despite the Doughboys' dream, it was not the "war to end all wars." Every generation has fought its wars from Pearl Harbor to Baghdad.

The causes have varied, the places diverse, the politics were different. But one thing remained constant - We veterans-Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and CoastGuardsmen - do not fail those with whom we serve.

Take the case of Marine Corporal Lonnie Young of Kentucky. Ambushed in Iraq, he fought to protect his position and his buddies. Eventually he was wounded - but did not stop fighting and taking care of other wounded Marines.

On the Internet, you can find a picture of Young - a bullet hole visible on his back - as he tends to a wounded comrade.

The mainstream media did not report the story - because something like this happens almost every day.

Lonnie Young is simply doing his job - that of a United States Marine.

There is the story of Sergeant Major Michael Stacks whose Special Forces team came under fire. The 48-year old Stacks immediately began firing so that others could escape.

He then led a security force to eliminate the remaining threat. But, the enemy concentrated fire on his vehicle - it exploded-and he was killed.

His brother, a retired Army man, recalled an earlier conversation. Sergeant Major Stacks said simply…"We're doing the right thing."

There are countless stories to be found about the positive efforts of our troops.

These are young men and women - just like we once were - and some of you still are-just like those who came before us were.
We share a strong bond a love of country and a devotion to our comrades.

Marine Corporal Thomas Kuster of California understands that bond. Wounded in Iraq he recovered and as he headed back to his unit he quipped: "They got me once, I figure they won't get me again."
But they did.

Another street fight outside Fallujah. A bullet in the back of his knee. He walks with a limp. Yet, he's back on duty.

His parents begged him not to return. Kuster says with a serious look on his face: "I felt like if I was to go home, I'd be turning my back on my Marines." That's a strong bond. One that we acknowledge … understand … and respect on Veterans Day.

Unheralded men and women - asking for nothing in return - but just doing what needs to be done - just as those who came before them did.

They don't do it for pay.

They don't do it for glory.

They do it because they have been chosen - have been privileged - to pay the price of freedom.

The men and women that I represent - 2.7 million Legionnaires across the nation - understand that abiding love of country and sacrifice for their buddies.

As Legionnaires say when we begin every meeting: "For God and country we associate ourselves together … " It's an association built on a bond of service forged in times of great sacrifice. Nurtured over time by service to community, state, nation, and each other.

As we honor veterans today - we will do well to remember that our freedom did not come easy. On the battlefields of the globe, America's finest men and women have shed blood and tears.

Not for recognition or reward - but simply because they love America-and they love those who share the burden with them.

So, I ask: "Why are we gathered here today?"

I trust your answer will be - because we care.

And yes, Ms. Ozick, we shall never take our veterans for granted.

We shall always remember them.

We are forever thankful to those who served … and those serving today.

So happy Veterans Day to all.

God bless our veterans.

May God continue to bless America!

Sunday, October 31, 2004

A Fallen Hero Comes Home

A Fallen Hero Comes Home - Police Provide Escort

These are the kinds of stories that make me proud of what I do. Where you see the abbreviation "SP", that means "State Police", and it refers to a station. For instance, I work at SP Loudonville.

This letter was written by Senior Investigator Jack Graham of SP Marcy to members of the NY State Police and Syracuse Police who, on April 17, 2003, participated in an impromptu ceremonial escort for a soldier killed in Iraq.

On Thursday, April 17, 2003 you participated in an Escort Detail for GREGORY P. HUXLEY JR who was killed in action in Iraq on April 6, 2003.

On behalf of the entire Huxley family and from me, personally "Thank You Very Much". The sincere dedication and emotions that you displayed meant so much to the Huxley family, that words cannot describe their feelings at this time.

What most did not know was that the US Army had promised the family members that they would be taken to Dover, Delaware to be present when their son arrived from Iraq and there would be a full military ceremony in Dover for GREGORY. Unfortunately, there was a communication problem and they were not present during that ceremony. Then they were informed that the body of their son was being flown to Syracuse and that the funeral director could pick up the "fallen soldier" at the cargo area of the airport and that somebody would help them remove the casket from the cardboard shipping container for transport to Boonville, NY. That was found to be totally unacceptable for a nineteen year old kid that gave his life for this country and for the freedom of so many others. As a family friend, the funeral director contacted me to see if anything could be done. We now had six hours before GREGORY arrived in Syracuse.

Phone calls were made to SP North Syracuse, SGT Nick Harmatiuk took over from here and what you participated in and observed the rest of that day was truly an outstanding display of what this agency can do in very short time. What happened, was just overwhelming.

From SP North Syracuse the procession left, led by eight Syracuse PD motorcycles, followed by the hearse, four cars with family members followed by ten State Police and Syracuse PD cars.

How ironic it was that when the procession was traveling parallel to the runway, the plane carrying GREGORY landed next to us. We were able to enter the planes cargo and rid his casket of the shipping crate and drape the American flag over it. When the casket traveled down the conveyor belt, fifteen New York State Troopers and the same amount of Syracuse Policemen lined the path to the awaiting hearse.

All came to attention and saluted as six State Troopers carried the flag draped coffin towards the hearse. After a short prayer, the family was given some time to welcome their son home. The entire airport was so quiet, I looked up at the windows of the concourses and saw a hundred people there, all standing, watching, with their hands over there hearts, saluting a young man that they did not know. Somehow they were told that a fallen soldier had come home and they wanted to share the moment with us. The casket was then placed in the hearse and the procession left the airport in the same fashion as we arrived, only this time with a young hero that our hearts will never forget.

The motorcade was escorted to the Thruway entrance by the Syracuse Police Department's motorcycles, all traffic was stopped for the procession and we headed east towards Boonville. After getting off the Thruway, at every intersection that the procession encountered we found that it had been blocked by more State Troopers, allowing safe passage with no interruptions. As we traveled through these intersections, every State Trooper, stood at attention, saluting the fallen soldier and his family, honoring GREGORY, giving him and his family the sincere respect, and thankfulness that they deserved. How emotional that was to see and to reflect on now, words cannot describe what that was like.

When entering the Village of Boonville, the main street was decorated with so many American Flags and yellow ribbons. As we approached the center of town, all of the church bells began to chime at once. Hundreds of people were there, lining the street, all holding American Flags and all of them weeping for GREGORY and for what he sacrificed, for us and this country. As we drove by the village park, the National Anthem was being played, for GREGORY, and I think, for us. At the funeral home, eight veterans lifted the casket out of the hearse and into the home with the family.

GREGORY, had arrived back in his home town.

I give you that description of events as not all of you took part in the entire process and I feel that you needed to know. I also think that you need to know what GREGORY'S family said to me, later. The images of the six State Troopers lifting their son, in his flag draped casket off of the airplane, of all the State Troopers standing at attention, saluting their son, all of the State Troopers standing on the street corners, at attention and saluting, honoring their son, of the State Police escorts from Syracuse to Boonville, these sights, and now their memories will always be etched in their hearts, forever.

But the one memory that will always be there first, was of the State Troopers standing at the airport, standing at attention, saluting, with tears running down the troopers cheeks, for their son, a fallen soldier, a hero, that those Troopers never personally knew.

Our jobs take many different avenues in life; we hope that during our day, or shift that we have made a difference, a positive attribute. Well, on Thursday, April 17, 2003, you did just that.

You let an entire family know, that you cared, that you were sincere in your caring and the thanks that you displayed for GREGORY and his family. Their words to me about you, told me just that. We made a difference yesterday, and we did in style.

The rewards we receive for details like this one you participated in do not come from anywhere but from your heart, take pride in what you accomplished yesterday, because you accomplished so much. I have had so many good things happen since I have been a State Trooper, but in the twenty fours years, I have never been prouder of the New York State Police as I was yesterday.
A fallen soldier, a hero, a son, a brother has finally come home, in grand deserving style, thanks to you.

Saturday, October 30, 2004

A New Generation of Heroes Surfaces

A new greatest generation is emerging --- in Afghanistan, in Iraq and on the other, less-publicized battlegrounds of the war on terror.

Focused on the U.S. political cycle, America’s media elite are missing the extraordinary story of the 19 through 35-year olds who are winning this war. The detailed history of this new cohort of American and free world leaders - the people who will shape the 21^st century - is being written by themselves, chiefly on the Internet, via e-mail or Web logs.

This is a battle-honed bunch with exceptional talent and motivation, young people with a mature balance of idealism and realism, youthful cool and professional competence. I saw this on every patrol and convoy I made this past summer in Iraq. I had the privilege of working with these “kids,” inevitably chastising myself for referring to such able young adults as kids. Their comeback was always, “It’s OK, sir. We know colonels are old.

” Sam, a U.S. Army private first class from Milwaukee, is an example of young soldiers who are both “boots and geeks” - troops who can handle digital technology and rifles. The unclassified laptop is on the blink. Sam taps out a half-dozen commands, and the machine functions smoothly. Need to run the eight kilometers of iffy freeway between Baghdad International “Airport and downtown? Sam pulls up in an SUV, his M-16 propped so he can drive and shoot.

Sam goes through the pre-trip procedures calmly, carefully. If we “meet trouble” and can’t drive through the ambush- and Sam is very good at high-speed swerves; I’m talking NASCAR level - he’ll take the best firing position available and try to suppress the attackers. Cool? He does this every day.

I know Sam has several gripes with “the system” - every real soldier earns the right to gripe. But in four months, I never saw a gripe deter this young man from doing his job right.

Then there’s James. He’s a captain in the Australian army (note, I said “free world leaders”). He’s 27, with a law degree but, more importantly, on-the-ground experience. He has a special talent for seeing the “big picture” strategic assessment. Every night the analytic group he organized would meet in Al Faw Palace to discuss the day’s events, with particular emphasis on economic and political issues affecting Iraqi governance.

James’ “chess club” consisted of lieutenants, captains, majors and a handful of young enlisted troops, with a couple of old fogies allowed to kibbutz. From the discussion, James would produce four or five concise PowerPoint slides. He usually finished his chore around 2 a.m., when he e-mailed the slides worldwide. By 9 a.m. the next morning, there’s James, back in the office, with a huge cup of coffee, starting the process again.

James “product” attracted a large readership. One day we got a complaint from headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Europe, that “the interesting slides SACEUR likes to see” hadn't arrived by e-mail.

<>Australia, James said one morning, was America’s most reliable military ally in the 20^th century and those shared values extend into the 21^st century. As a senior officer told me the day before I left Baghdad: “You’yet gotten to see what I see, Austin. These young people are so smart.” <>
“Where do they come from?” I asked. "I don’t know. Many were in the service before 9-11, but a lot of the young enlisted people, they’ve come in since then.” “Maybe it’s the pressure, circumstances,” I said. “Your know, terrible challenges, the old saw of rising to the occasion?”

We both looked at each other. No doubt that is the case - but the challenges these young people meet day in and day out are dangerous and daunting.