THE LETTER
> ------ ----
> A California mother whose son is right now in Kuwait poised to knock
> Saddam's block off, wrote her son asking how he would feel if she
> joined
> other relatives of service members in an anti-war demonstration in
> Hollywood last month.
> --------
> After reading her son's response, she elected not to participate.
> ************************************
>
>
> Dear Mom:
>
> It's really your decision to march if you want to or not.
> You are the one who has to decide if what we are doing out here
> is right or not. My opinion is not yours. I do, however, have things
> I would like for you and Grandma and everyone
> else at home to know.
> --------
> I am a United States soldier.
> I was sworn to defend my country against
> all enemies, foreign and domestic.
> People may not agree with the things we are ordered to do.
> I would like to address those people by telling
> them that terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to
> many
> other innocent people in the world.
> -----------
>
> What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and
> freedoms of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just
> because they're human?
> -------------
>
> We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives.
> They do business like usual and don't worry about the thought of
> terrorism actually happening to them.
> The people of 9-11 thought the same thing.
> We now know that it can happen to anyone at any time.
> ----------
>
> Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our
> security. I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an
> easy
> expense to ensure that my family and friends can live in peace.
> --------
> I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see
> for yourselves the honor and privilege that
> American soldiers aboard this ship are feeling, knowing that we are
> going to be a part of something so strong and so meaningful to the
> safety of our loved ones.
> ------
>
> Then you would know what this potential war is about.
> We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat it.
> We as soldiers are not afraid of what may happen.
> We are only afraid of Americans not being able to
> understand why we are here.
> I ask for your courage as Americans to be
> strong for us;
> --------
> I ask for your understanding in what we believe is right.
> I ask for your support in what we are sworn to do:
> defend our country and the life of all.
> We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism
> in our back yard.
> --------
> We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'.
> We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for:
> life, liberty and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights
> we have to stop the threat of terrorism.
> -------
> I am proud to be here.
> I will be coming home, but not until I know that
> it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love.
> My family is first.
> My country is where they live.
> I will defend it
>
> Lonnie
> J. Lewis
> Navy corpsman
> C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
> UIC 39726
> FPO AP 966139726
>
> P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time
> understanding
> why we are here.
> Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that
> others will know why we are here and what we are here for.
>
> I love you all and will be home soon.
> I left my address so that if
> anyone feels like writing to let me know how they feel, they can.
>