THE LINTHICUM VETERANS MEMORIAL

            In February of 1836 a force of several thousand Mexican soldiers under the leadership of Santa Anna surrounded a little adobe mission in San Antonio, Texas.  The name of that mission was The Alamo, and forevermore people throughout the world will continue to remember The Alamo as a heroic struggle against impossible odds, and as a place where men made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom.

            From Lexington and Concord to Iraq and Afghanistan the history of this great nation is filled with chapters heralding the sacrifices made by men and women who have consistently and courageously placed themselves in harm’s way as soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in order to defend the freedoms we cherish and the ideals on which our country was founded and which we all hold so dear.

            Men like Jim Bonham, who left the Alamo twice to seek reinforcements and returned both times through enemy lines to rejoin his comrades as they faced Santa Anna’s army.  Though encouraged by others to remain safely outside the doomed mission fortress, Bonham replied, “I will report the result of my mission…or die in the attempt.”  He then dashed back to the Alamo through a hail of bullets. Unable to save his comrades he was determined to die with them.  And as one witness, on a nearby hill, who watched Bonham’s final return to the Alamo later reported, “The gate of the Alamo flew open (for him) and as chivalrous a soul as ever fought and died for liberty entered – entered to leave no more, except in its upward flight to the throne of God.”

            Or men like SGT John Basilone, whose life was recently brought to public attention by a made for television movie entitled The Pacific.  Born and raised in New Jersey, he found his calling as a United States Marine.  On Guadalcanal, his courageous action in the face of a determined and vicious enemy won him the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Sent home to tour the country and sell war bonds, he eventually realized that the perks of being a hero were not for him.  So he turned down a desk job in Washington, and other billets offered him that would have assured his survival of the war, and requested that he be allowed to return to his boys – his fellow Marines.  His request was granted.  He went back to his boys, and led them to Iwo Jima – where he was killed in action.

            Or men like Pat Tillman – a star in the National Football League – who gave up his multi-million dollar contract as a professional athlete to enlist in the Army following the events of 9/11.  He couldn’t stand to watch others go off to defend his country just so he could make millions playing a game.   So he became an Army Ranger, and died while on a mission in Afghanistan.

            There are countless other such stories, as we all well know.  Stories about men and women who put their country before themselves and often did so even when it meant paying the ultimate price – men and women for whom Memorials such as this stand forever in recognition of the sacrifices they have made and the blessing they have been to the land they love - men and women who should never, ever be forgotten – men and women who are our nation’s veterans.

            A few days ago, as I thought about what I might say here this morning as we dedicate this Memorial, I received an email from an old and dear friend.  She wished to share with me a story which had obviously meant a lot to her, and having read it I decided to share it with you as well.  You may have heard it already, and email being what it is today chances are you probably have.  But, even so, it’s worth repeating – especially now.

            It’s the story of a man who one day boarded a plane and settled into his seat for what he knew would be a long flight.  He was happy to have a good book to read and looked forward as well to taking a short nap. Then, just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats around him.  So he decided to start a conversation.
            “Where are you headed,” he asked the soldier seated nearest to him.  “We’re headed out for special training before being deployed to Afghanistan,” he was told. After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for $5.  Knowing that it would be several hours before the plane landed, he quickly decided that a lunch would help pass the time…
            As he reached for his wallet, he overheard the soldier near him ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.  “No, that seems like a lot of money for a sack lunch,” the other soldier said.  “Probably won’t even be worth five bucks.  I’ll just wait until we get to base.”  And his friend agreed.
            Looking around, he noticed that none of the other soldiers were going to buy a lunch either.  So he got up, walked to the back of the plane, and handed the flight attendant $50.  “Take a lunch to all of those soldiers,” he told her.  And with that she grabbed his arms, squeezed tightly, and as her eyes filled with tears, she thanked him.  “My son was a soldier in Iraq,” she said.  “It’s almost like you are doing it for him.” Picking up ten sacks, she then headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated.
            After this kind benefactor had finished eating his own meal, he went to the back of the plane once more to use the rest room.  Another passenger stopped him.  “I saw what you did,” the other man said, “and I want to be a part of it.  Here take this.”  And he handed over $25.
            Soon after returning to his seat the Flight Captain came to him, smiled, held out his hand, and said with a booming voice, “I want to shake your hand.  I was a soldier and a military pilot, and once someone bought me a lunch.  It was an act of kindness I never forgot.”  And as the two men shook hands, all of the other passengers applauded.
            And later, as he got up to stretch his legs, a passenger a few rows in front of him reached out his hand to shake as well, and left in his palm another $25. When the plane landed, he gathered his belongings and started to leave.  Waiting just inside the airplane door was yet another man who stopped him, put something in his shirt pocket, then turned and walked away without saying a word.  It was another $25.
            Upon entering the terminal, he saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.  So he walked over to them and handed them the $75.  “It will take you some time to reach your base,” he told them, “and I’m sure you will have to stop to eat.  God bless you.”
            Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.  And as the man whose act of thoughtfulness and kindness inspired that feeling for them walked to his car, he whispered a prayer for their safe return.  Those soldiers were giving their all for their country.  He could only give them a couple of meals.  It seemed so little….

            Stories like that tend to remind us that a veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount “up to and including his or her life.”

            That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. Well, we are here today because we do understand.  The Linthicum family and the Linthicum community understand.  Those elected to represent this community in Annapolis understand.  Those who have purchased the bricks that make up the walkway before this Memorial understand.  And all of us gathered here now to dedicate this Memorial understand.  We all understand the importance of showing love. gratitude and respect to those who have honorably and courageously written a blank check to this vast and beautiful country for an amount up to and including their own lives because they believe in freedom – they believe in justice – they believe in all that this nation stands for and represents and are willing to defend it with their lives if need be.

            It is for them that we are now here gathered.  It is for them that this new Memorial stands as a reminder for years to come of the significant price countless patriots have paid throughout history in defense of their homeland.  And it is for them that we now dedicate this beautiful Memorial with the fervent wish that it will stand forever as an expression of our gratitude for our nation’s veterans and their service to their country and as an inspiring symbol for generations of veterans yet to come.

            God bless them all for truly their service has been a blessing to our nation.