An American Hero
I received an e-mail today, the kind that looks suspiciously like those chain or SPAM e-mails that have a way of filling up our inboxes… we all get them.
I don’t know about you, but the first thing I do is turn to SNOPES… nope, nothing at SNOPES. Looks like I’m on my own here.
The e-mail refers to letters published in The Tennessean in response to a photo of a little boy.. no.. a photo of a brave young man who has lost his dad. Heartbreaking for sure.
Turns out… the story is real, the e-mail is true.
Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, an American hero, was serving his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. He volunteered to return for a second tour because “…as warriors have done before us, we joined this organization and are following orders because we believe that what we are doing is right. Many of us have volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to. Stand beside us. Because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that has enabled us to prosper as a nation.”
The e-mail mentions letters to the editor using the loss of an American hero as an occasion to slam his Commander in Chief. As you read this letter, keep in mind the words of Staff Sergeant Golczynski.
From the Tennessean website:
In the April 5 letters, Rollow Mickle was once again thumping his war drum and ranting against the “liberals” who dare to take a stand against the war (”Elitists disparage Iraq war and Bush”).
I hope Mr. Mickle eagerly read his letter, then turned to the next section, which contained the heartbreaking photo of young Christian Golczynski fighting back tears as he received the flag from his father’s coffin. He was killed in Iraq.
How many more fatherless children will it take before the Bush supporters admit their mistake? What a sad chapter in American history this unending disaster has become, and what a terrible price these kids have paid. - Mel Davenport
Looks as if there are other letters to the editor with titles like ”A grieving child shows us war is out of control and we must demand answers”; unfortunately the letters have been archived. There were also letters offering prayers, gratitude and support:
From the Tennessean website:
Very few photos have brought tears to my eyes but, when I opened my paper Thursday and saw the photo of Christian Golczynski being presented the folded flag that had been taken from his dad’s coffin moments before my eyes got wet. What a brave face attempting to hide the agony of a broken heart. His dad was proud of him I am sure.
We go about our lives each day pretty much taking for granted the freedoms we enjoy and very seldom do we consider those who paid and are paying the price for us to do so. I am as guilty as anyone else. I’ll tell you one thing though. This photograph has really made me stop and think.
I plan to frame a copy of this photo and place it where I will see it every day of my life so I will be reminded of all those throughout our history who have sacrificed to make it possible for us to live free.
And I don’t mean just the soldiers … I am talking about the families who have lost loved ones in the wars and conflicts our country has been through. Those who lay awake at night wondering if their family member is OK on the other side of Earth. For those who have no idea what happened to their loved one, the MIA.
And a little 8-year-old boy named Christian who will have to grow up with no dad to throw balls with, no dad to go fishing or hunting with, no dad to share holidays with. Yes folks, freedom has a cost, you can see it in the face of this young man.
Who can say who sacrifices most, the soldier, or their family … I am so very grateful to all those who have had a part in myself and my family and friends being able to go about our day to day lives as we wish as free people in a free country.
Thank you Christian and Marc and the rest. - Robert England
Headline annoyance: reading this letter, would you have come up with this headline “Families sacrificing too much in Iraq war”. Doesn’t seem to me the writer was trying to say the families are sacrificing too much. Sacrificing? Yes. But by adding the “too much”, the headline writer tried to make it seem as if the writer is making a statement about the war.
Why on earth the headline writier felt it necessary to spin this into a commentary on the war… but I digress…
This letter is spot on. Read it again… we owe these heroes our support, our prayers, our support… our real support… our support for them AND their mission… or gratitude for their sacrifice of time.. time not spent with family… time not spent with friends… perhaps time not spent living…
Staff Sergeant Golczynski did not give his life in vain. He served his country with honor and stood between the US and our enemies and said “never again”. Never again will we wait for the enemy’s next move. Never again will we hide our heads hoping the bad guys will go away and leave us alone. Never again will we let them take the battle to American shores.
We will fight them in their streets. We will fight them in their homes. We will fight them in dark hideaways as they scurry among the rocks like the lowly rats that they are. And we will defeat them because men like Staff Sergeant Golczynski will not be defeated, as long as the politicians who believe words will shield us from WMDs step aside and lower their white flags of surrender.
When you look at this photo, remember the sacrifice this family has made, remember them in your prayers, but never forget who the real enemy is. On 9/11, we as a nation vowed to never forget. What short memories our new congressional leadership has…
Please keep Staff Sergeant Golczynski’s family in your prayers… and never forget those who serve so that we may sleep safe tonight.
Stumble it!
May 4th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Here is a letter I wrote the Tennessean about the moving photograph of Christian Golczynski:
(it was not published)
Dear Tennessean:
The Tennessean’s April 5 photograph of young Christian Golczynski accepting the American flag from Marine Lt. Col. Ric Thompson is one of the most moving and emotion provoking images I have ever seen.
I attended funeral services for Christian’s father, Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, on April 4, along with my six year-old son, dozens of Marines, and several hundred others who came to pay tribute to this fallen hero.
As one would expect, many of your readers were touched by this incredible picture. Staff Sergeant Golczynski had previously served one full tour in Iraq. Shortly before his death on March 27 he wrote to his family that he had volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. In his letter he said, “We fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to.” Tragically, Staff Sergeant Golczynski had only two weeks remaining on his second tour. We look at the photograph of Christian every day. It is displayed prominently in our home.
Our hearts ache for Christian and for all those who have lost loved ones in this controversial conflict.
Our nation is at a historical crossroads. Do we call an end to the struggle in Iraq or press on? Staff Sergeant Golczynski eloquently told his son how he felt about not giving up. Perhaps there is a lesson for all of us in this man’s life and the choices he made. He was undeniably a man of tremendous courage and conviction. America must now choose whether to complete the job.
When looking at the face of Christian Golczynski I am reminded that doing what is right is not always easy and doing what is easy is not always right. Christian’s dad knew that too.
James Drescher
Franklin, TN
May 4th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Thank you sir. I hope you don’t mind, but I am posting your letter as an entry on thinkinboutstuff… it deserves more attention than inclusion as a comment.