For the soldiers of Ft. Hood, the entire military, the city of Killeen, the State of Texas, and the entire nation this is a day of remembering those who were killed during the heinous mass shooting that took place at Ft. Hood last Thursday afternoon. Today there was a military memorial service for the fallen. It is hard to comprehend how something like this could have happened, what could drive someone to such a despicable act of domestic terrorism, which took the lives of many of our finest. These troops who were killed last Thursday were willing to serve their country, and sacrifice everything to defend it, and our liberties. These men and women deserve to be honored, and praised for their willingness to put their lives on the line for our nation.
We must remember that all of our troops are also someone’s son, daughter, sister, brother, husband, wife, mother, or father. These servicemen and women have families, they have a life outside the military, and yet they are willing to put all of that on hold when called to service, because they know they are fighting for something worth fighting for, defending something worth holding on to. It is a shame that those who fell late last week had their lives cut short in a despicable act of cowardice.
A military memorial service was held this afternoon to remember and honor the fallen. The memorial service was aired live on nationally televised news stations including Fox News and CNN. Lt. General Robert Cone began the service, and acknowledged that the men and women being honored today answered a call that few are willing to answer. They were willing to make the sacrifice that not many are willing to make. “Soldiers do what soldiers to best, take care of each other,” Lt. Gen Cone commented reflecting on the number of soldiers to put their training into action when it was needed most saving who knows how many more lives last week. These troops are heroes and deserved to recognized as such. All of the fine men and women in our armed services are heroes and always deserve to recognized as such.
General George Casey remarked on the connection that every soldier in the Army, and in every branch of our military has to each other. He quoted the Book of Isiah, Chapter 8, verse 6: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” When our servicemen and women put on that military uniform every day they are reaffirming the pledge they made to defend our country, and when few are willing to stand and say “Here am I. Send me”, these men and women are.
President Barack Obama spoke before the army personnel, family, and friends of Ft. Hood. President Obama remarked on the fact that there are no words that could offer the amount of condolences to make the wrong right. He commented that the legacy of our troops is the domestic tranquility that we experience every day. The protection of the freedoms and rights that we enjoy, and often take for granted are the legacy of these men and women. President Obama spoke of all of the fallen from the tragic events of last Thursday. “Their lives speak of the strength, dignity, and decency of those who serve,” the President remarked. He also spoke on the fact that no faith justifies such an abhorrent act of violence, and no God who would smile down on it. The president’s words were eloquent as we come to expect from Barack Obama, and regardless of how you feel about the policies of Obama his words were appropriate and a testimonial to the strength, the courage, and the willingness to give all in the service of our country that our troops show every single day when.
Probably the most powerful part of the service was the final roll call. The names of the troops of Ft. Hood are called out, and when one of the fallen is called out a soldier yells out that they are no longer with us. It was a moving service, and a good tribute to our fallen troops. Our thoughts and prayers should continue to be with the soldiers of Ft. Hood, and the loved ones of the victims.