MARINE MOM SPEAKS FOR US ALL
Amy Galvez wanted to be heard. And she wanted to do her part.
So Sunday afternoon she sat down at her computer and worked on the little organization she had put together to help the troops.
Well, the Marines actually.
See, it gets hot over there, hotter than most of us can imagine back here, and so she organized some of the other mothers to come up with different things to help their Marines stay cool. And Sunday she worked on that a little bit.
And then she wrote the letter. A letter to the editor. Actually, it was more of an op-ed piece. A long rundown of something that had been bothering her.
See, the president is coming to Salt Lake City next week to talk to the American Legion. It’s a pretty big honor for Utah and people are pretty excited. Except the mayor. His name is Rocky Anderson and he’s not a fan of President Bush.
So he organized a protest. A big anti-Bush, anti-war protest. Some would even call it an anti-American protest. He’s going to fly Cindy Sheehan in and while the president and the veterans are meeting, the mayor and his Democrat friends are going to be outside being bitter and hateful.
And that galls a Marine mom.
At least it galled Amy Galvez.
So Sunday afternoon she wrote this:
“Once again, it is time for the voices of military families to be heard. As the time approaches for Mayor Rocky Anderson, joined by Cindy Sheehan, to raise their voices and denounce the job my son and other servicemen are doing, I cannot remain silent.
“I understand that many people do not support the war in Iraq, the global war on terror. Many would rather wait until something happens here at home and deal with it then.
“That is fine to have that opinion.
“What is not fine is an elected official speaking to the world and condemning the job our service men and women are doing.
“But, it hits closer to home than that.
“My son, Adam, who is a resident of Salt Lake City, is now in Iraq. He was sent there by the United States to do a job. The mayor of Salt Lake City will grab headlines by speaking out against the job my son, a resident of his city, is doing.
“I know that Mayor Anderson says he supports the troops but not the war. You cannot say you support the troops and tell the world that what they are doing is wrong.
“Mayor Anderson's words will play worldwide. This will be seen on Al Jazeera TV and throughout the communities where America is hated.
“I believe that the words of Mayor Anderson, as well as other elected officials who speak out against our military and their mission, in essence, give support and momentum to the enemy. This, in turn, puts the lives or our sons, fighting on our behalf, in greater jeopardy.
“I heard it appropriately put by Tammy Bruce, who said, ‘When you make the world mad at the Marines, it is easier to kill them.’
“My belief is that American lives have been lost in this war because the enemy has been emboldened by our own words, actions and lack of support for our own mission.
“America will always be hated by many throughout the world. That won't change. Regardless of your politics, supporting our military, which is mostly made up of very young American volunteers, should be our foremost concern.
“Mayor Anderson should go before the cameras and say thank you to every American troop, especially those from Salt Lake, for their heroic duty instead of undermining their efforts.
“Amy Galvez
“Proud American and Very Proud Marine Mom.”
That’s what she wrote. When she was satisfied with it she e-mailed it off to the paper.
Then she heard a car door close out front and she stood up and looked out the window to see who it was.
It was two Marines walking toward her door.
Lance Corporal Adam Galvez was 21. He died in Al Anbar province. He was killed by a roadside bomb.
He was due to come home in a month.
He wrote home every week. Happy, positive letters. He was a patriot and a Marine and he was proud of what he was doing. He believed in the mission.
He almost died a month ago. A suicide bomber drove a gasoline truck up next to the building where he was. Four Marines died and Adam Galvez was broken up pretty bad. But he came back as soon as the doctors would let him and the day he did he stood with his comrades at a memorial service for the four Marines who had been killed in the attack that wounded him.
They wanted to give him light duty but he wouldn’t take it and went back in the line with his buddies, doing the deed and fighting the fight. And Sunday morning Iraq time his LAV was roaring down the road when the IED went off.
And his mom and dad lost their son.
And America lost a defender.
And the Corps lost a brother.
There was one other e-mail worth reading. A tribute.
“Farewell to Adam.
“Somewhere hidden in the heart of all who have experienced combat resides a small hallowed space reserved for a unique fraternity. It is a place that is sacred and impassable except for those sharing the experience. It is a place where only members of the brotherhood, the band of brothers, are allowed.
“Adam has entered this place.
“His farewell words to me were, ‘Well, Grandpa, now it's my turn."
“Farewell Adam my grandson, and farewell Adam my brother.
“Tom Gierhart
“DaNang, Vietnam 1968-1970”
- by Bob Lonsberry © 2006
