When The Shooting Stops: Dempsey Speaks To Gold Star Mothers

Monday, June 25, 2012

Dempsey Speaks To Gold Star Mothers

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke to American Gold Star Mothers on Sunday during their 75th annual national convention in Arlington, VA.

"I would never ever suggest that I know what you've been through," said Dempsey, to the mothers of some of our men and women killed at war. "But I am thrilled that you're here going through it together, so well done to the Gold Star Moms, Gold Star Dads and Gold Star Families associations."

"Those of us still serving love you and we will do everything we can to honor the sacrifices that your loved ones have made."

Here's the video of General Dempsey's remarks:

1 comment:

UnknownJune 25, 2012 at 3:31 PM
General Dempsey was my son's Commanding Officer when he was in Iraq, both good Armor guys. When I was able to speak to him, he remembered my son and the (strange) circumstances surrounding his death. He explained that he has a box on his desk with 132 cards about each of the soldiers lost under his command. He has not forgotten our fallen.

I am so please I was in attendance. Oh, and he sings great, too! :-)
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Why This Blog?

I spent a lot of the last decade pissed off -- really pissed off. And my writing at the time reflected it: Angry, pointed and focused like a laser on everything I did not like about the previous administration and, in particular, the war in Iraq, which as a military Veteran, left me fuming more days than not.

My opposition to the Iraq war was specifically because of having been in the military and my unshakable belief that our men and women in uniform were serving honorably and with tremendous courage in a war that was not worthy of their sacrifice. I stand by every word I wrote during that time, but I would be lying if I said there were not some things that I wish I could take back. Thus is the lot you draw for yourself when you are angry and where most of what you care about is what you are against, rather than what you are for.

This web site and my upcoming book, When The Shooting Stops, will be all about what I am for: Our newest military families who have sacrificed so much over the last 10 years, the people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and our duty as a nation to see that what they gave -- and what they risked -- is honored and never forgotten.

I can't promise I will never take a political tone -- can any of us ever swear to that these days? What I do promise is that I will damned well try to keep this blog about the people who are wearing the uniform, those who have served and their families. I may call some people out, but I will try to make the criteria for that criticism what they do for or against the interests of our military people and Veterans and not what political party they belong to.

After feeling at odds for so many years with my more conservative friends, it feels good to come back to something that, at its core, is something most people can agree with -- our military families and Veterans gave to us and we must remember to give back to them.

Thanks for reading.