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No greater love: a tribute to our soldiers and a call to action
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When you say 3,587 soldiers have died so far in Iraq it seems so easy to file that number away in your memory bank, or worse, not bother to stop and think about it at all.
These numbers represent people. Each of these soldiers had a life, people who love them, cherish them and miss them dearly. They had dreams, aspirations and hope for the future. They were brave, dedicated and passionate about protecting what matters most to them in the world – their families, friends and freedom.
In the process of doing research for the article and podcast I did about Army Specialist Brandon Titus, the 6th soldier from Idaho killed in Iraq, I interviewed his father Tom Titus (who is a decorated, combat-wounded Vietnam Veteran) and met many of Brandon’s friends and family, who shared with me his life.
Because of the time I spent getting to know Brandon, I feel like I too lost a loved one in the war, even though I never met him, and never will. I’ve shed more tears than I can count for him; I ache for his loved ones. I wish I could have shaken his hand and thanked him for being the kind of man he was.
As a journalist, I’m supposed to veil my emotion and remain objective in my work, but I can’t help but love our soldiers and mourn their loss.
They died for me and they died for you, so we could be free. What they’ve given us is something I never want to take for granted.
In the statement Brandon left his family (which was read at his
funeral) he said, “When you think of my life later on, please remember my brothers and sisters in arms who also gave their lives to this great country, my death is no greater than theirs.
We all gave our lives to a greater cause, and that’s all that matters.”
To honor Brandon’s request, in lieu of celebrating Independence Day with fireworks and barbecues, I spent the entire day reading through the profiles and memorial boards of the soldiers we’ve lost in the war on www.legacy.com.
I know them now by name. Their faces, their stories and the pain and pride of their families are burned permanently into my memory.
Before I wrote the article and did the podcast about Brandon, he and his fellow soldiers numbered 3,587. They were a sound bite sandwiched between coverage of Paris Hilton and Anna Nichole Smith and frankly, this disgusts me.
As a mother and a nurturer, I want to protect every soldier fighting in the war right now because I don’t want what happened to Brandon to happen to them, or my own children when they come of age.
However, the part of me who is a patriot and loves this country would be proud and honored to see my children defend it, just as I am of the women and men who are fighting now.
Our soldiers understand the risk they’re taking when they sign up to join the military. Most are honored to serve, despite politics or how they feel about the war. They’re in this fight together as brothers and sisters and citizens who love our country and are prepared to defend it, no matter the cost.
When dealing with the currency of human lives, we must be careful which risks we choose. The anxiety I feel over how best to support the soldiers, vote in the next election and be a part of the consensus of Americans who find a solution to the war in Iraq is quite overwhelming. Getting to know Brandon Titus and talking with other soldiers who have returned from the war (or are about to be deployed) has taught me why doing those things is so important and essential.
Turning our backs to politics and turning off news coverage of the war is turning our back on our soldiers.
They hold up their end of the bargain when they put on that uniform and we need to hold up ours by telling them thank you, and by demanding we find a solution to the war so they can come home again … when the job is done.
Whatever “when the job is done” means is open to interpretation. That’s what makes the work we have to do so damn hard, but that doesn’t mean we stop trying, or we give up. We cannot let the deaths of those who gave their lives in
defense of our freedom be in vain.
On a personal note, I want to tell each and every soldier (and their families) that I appreciate what you do for this country, for me and my children.
While you are fighting for us, we are fighting for you and we hope to see you home soon.
Shannon Morgan