Dear Mom:
It's really your decision to march if you want to or
not. You are the one who has to decide if what we are doing out here is
right or not. My opinion is not yours. I do, however, have things I
would like for you and Grandma and everyone else at home to know. I am a
United States soldier. I was sworn to defend my country against all
enemies, foreign and domestic. People may
not agree with the things we are ordered to do. I would like to address
those people by telling them that terrorism is not only a threat to us
as Americans, but to many other innocent people in the world.
What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and
freedoms of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just
because they're human?
We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives.
They do business like usual and don't worry about the thought of
terrorism actually happening to them.
The people of 9-11 thought the same thing. We now know that it can
happen to anyone at any time. Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing
our soldiers to defend our security. I can only speak for myself when I
say that my life is an easy expense to ensure that my family and friends
can live in peace.
I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see
for yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard
this ship are feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of
something so strong and so meaningful to the safety of our loved ones.
Then you would know what this potential war is about.
We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers
are not afraid of what may happen. We are only afraid of Americans not
being able to understand why we are here. I ask for your courage as
Americans to be strong for us; I ask for your understanding in what we
believe is right. I ask for your support in what we are sworn to do:
defend our country and
the life of all.
We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of
terrorism in our back yard. We will also end the threat of terrorism in
our neighbors'.
We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life,
liberty, and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have
to stop the threat of terrorism. I am proud to be here. I will be coming
home, but not until I know that it's going to be safe for all Americans
and for everyone I love. My family is first. My country is where they
live. I will defend it.
Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
UIC 39726
FPO AP 966139726
P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard
time understanding why we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said
in a column so that others will know why we are here and what we are
here for. I love you all and will be home soon. I left my address so
that if anyone feels like writing to let me know how they feel, they
can.
Note: The newspapers have not printed this story and what would you like
to bet they never will.
