Reel Urban News Remembers:
This is taken from a speech I gave on May 27, 2013, at the American Legion Post 694’s Memorial Day Ceremony in Marina, CA. There are no words to express the honor in receiving this invitation to speak! – Cynthia Shaffer, Military Daughter
Almost 10 years ago I called my father. I was quite distressed about the reporting of a certain soldier killed in action on 4/22/2004 and I needed to talk to my father. I couldn’t rightly figure out why I was so emotional. After all, I didn’t know him. In fact, I had never even heard of him before that day. He wasn’t family; he wasn’t a friend…why then, on God’s green Earth, was I so stuck on this certain soldier named Pat Tillman? The one who forfeited a $3 million dollar football contract to join the Army. I know, that’s a lot of money, but honestly, unlike the public, I wasn’t so impressed about the money or the football.
I grew up around soldiers. Uniforms were all around me, and I always knew that meant the people wearing them did very important things. Why wouldn’t someone want to join the military over playing football, or anything else for that matter? I was far more impressed with his character and the way he was manifesting his desire to do something to be a part of fighting a very real enemy of our Nation. To me, he merely exemplified the caliber of people I had been around my whole life–I just didn’t “know” it…until that day.
Juxtapose the Tillman story to the 133 stories which received no fanfare. You see, in that very same month, as reported by the Pentagon, 134 US troops had been killed. I still have that paper. This is the front page of USA Today. Pictured here are, “the 116 for whom photos are available, in the order in which they died.” In April 2004, they all, including Specialist Tillman, gave the ultimate sacrifice. And to me, they all are deserving of our nation’s grateful heart. Many of you know someone who isn’t here today because they too gave the ultimate sacrifice. Today we pay our respects to those who belong to the ages, but the best way I know how to honor their memory is to thank the living. So, to you, right here, right now, I say, “Thank you. Thank you for your service.” I shall never know what it’s like to walk in your boots, but because of you I am able, as an American, to walk the best I can in the little size 6 shoes I put on everyday. I wear high heels whenever I can, because I want to be tall, and walk proudly, just like you. Yeah, when I grow up I want to be just like you.
I’m so thankful Pat Tillman was recognized, but I was coming to terms in the conversation with my father that our service members are rarely recognized. And when they are finally acknowledged, it is more often the bad stuff that is highlighted, not the good stuff. What are your thoughts on the worth of our service members? What measure do you use? What esteem do you have for those who make sure we can fly Old Glory? What would you be willing to commit to preserve our freedom and sustain our sovereignty as a nation? Some have already answered that question by way of putting on the uniform. Others, like me, who haven’t put on the uniform, will answer that question either by action or inaction.
Whether shoulder to shoulder or alone, I stand where we all bleed red, and the exceptional among us have shed their blood so the red, white, and blue can fly…and that’s why we are free. I’m ever grateful.
