This has been a special week to think of the men and women serving our country. It was the week we learned that October has been the deadliest month for U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. It is the month in which we learned another local soldier died in Iraq.
I did not know Daniel Rivera personally, but I thought of him last week, when Governor David Paterson ordered flags at half-staff to honor him. I came home from work at midnight and took a moment to lower the flag in front of our home. Instinctively, as I stepped back, I took a moment to salute, in the darkness, remembering my days of service in the Army. Flying a flag at half-staff is a way to honor someone who has given their life for our nation. It is
also a way to ask an individual to pause, pray for a family, and salute the brave who fight for us.
On Thursday, November 5th, I will be honored to emcee the annual "Stars and Stripes" Dinner for the Veterans' Outreach Center. At that time an entire room will pause as the names of those who have given their lives in service to our nation are read aloud, and a candle is lighted at an empty table in their honor.
We can never fully understand the depth of loss families feel at these times. We owe them a moment of thanks, though. We owe them the courtesy of taking time to remember, to pray, and quietly salute -- in the darkness.
