DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Great video!!! It really makes you think.
ReplyDeleteJoe, thanks so much for posting this video in Shaun Mitchell's memory. It reminds me that no matter how old a man is, he's never too old or too big to cry because I'm in tears after watching it.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll permit me to share something that played through my mind like its own video as I listened to this song. I was transported back in time to December 27, 2004. That was the day my wife and I visited Arlington National Cemetery and spent several hours walking around. It was an experience I think of every single day now, even if only for "Two Minutes".
Literally as far as the eye could see were the rows upon rows upon rows of military headstones stretching out in all directions. As we walked, mostly in silence, to different parts of the cemetery it was like taking a walk through the history of this nation's conflicts. The Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam, the Grenada invastion, Marines from the Beirut 1983 Marine barracks bombing, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Operation Anaconda. . . the graves of both veterans and casualties of these and other conflicts in our history, were so numerous as to be beyond true comprehension.
It really brought the meaning home to me. Each one of those markers represented a human life that was either ended (usually in its prime)or forever changed by the experience the person lying there had gone through while serving our country. It was then that I felt overwhelmed and humbled as never before in my life.
Each one of these people - people like Shaun Mitchell - was a true American hero who had taken years out of their life - and many times lost that life - so that I could wake up every morning in the greatest free country on earth and be free to speak out, peaceably assemble, caste my vote for those who represent me...and the many other freedoms I took for granted most of my life. I felt ashamed of myself, and vowed that never again would I allow myself to forget or to take for granted the price these people have paid for me over the decades so I could have the life I do today.
Before we left Arlington that day, we observed from a respectful distance the funeral service for another of our American heroes. I knew as we watched that this person had given his or her life in Iraq or Afghanistan because they were laid to rest in the section that is currently being used to inter warriors from those conflicts. Another of America's finest had come home.
And now we commemorate Shaun Mitchell, another American hero and one of our very own locally. Shaun is a hero because he dedicated years of his life to serving his country. And he did it not only out of his love for America - he also did it for you and me, neighbor.
So please take two minutes before you go to sleep tonight to say a prayer of thanks for our hero Shaun Mitchell. If you don't believe in prayer, then just thank Shaun in your own way.
May you rest in peace, Marine Shaun Mitchell. Semper Fi.
Joe, thank you for such a moving tribute to Sean. He was my nephew and memories of him will be forever treasured in my heart. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteSemper FI
ReplyDelete