He fell in Normandy. His father and my grandfather were brothers. He went to school with my mother in a small West Baton Rouge Parish town. His story is probably no different than that of 65,000 other Americans buried in France and many more buried all over Europe and elsewhere. But, he is unique to us.

He did not come home:

to fish the bayou in his pirogue for the crawfish boil,

to dance the fais do do,

to go to mass and eat Sunday dinners with us,

to hear the sound of Cajun spoken and

to smell Cajun cooking wafting from his mother�s kitchen as we sat out on the gallery drinking strong black coffee from demitasse cups,

to watch with us on those pleasant Sunday afternoons, the children playing in the yard under the trees and around the flower beds,

to see the wife and children he might have had.

No, he did not come home.

But, we have not forgotten him; nor have we forgotten all the others fallen with him, before him and after him; nor have we forgotten those who came home maimed; nor have we forgotten all of those that served.

We remember them all every time the flag is raised. We remember them all every time our national anthem is played. We remember them all every time the pledge is said. We remember them all, everyday of our lives, when we speak out as we choose, work and play as we choose; in short, live as we choose.

Heroes all, can you all hear our cry? We are cheering for all of you then and now. Heroes all, can you see the flags and yellow ribbons fly? The whole country salutes you all in every way we know how.

But, it is not just for you that we raise our voices. One resounding plea goes out for the hoped for glory of the entire world. Freedom and justice �for ALL the people�, not just for our people; �by ALL the people�, not just by our people; and �of ALL the people", not just of our people. Let freedom ring, not just �from our mountains, to our prairies, to our oceans�; but, "from all the mountains, to all the prairies, to all the oceans� of the earth.

�Oh, I know I�m a dreamer, but, I�m not the only one�, and � with a little help from our friends� it can and will be done. Freedom will be won for the whole world. To the terrorists of today, and �make no mistake about it�, you are messing with the majority in this country and the majority has spoken in the voices of their leaders, which they chose. You are doomed here in this country and in every country that harbors you. �For as long as it takes, with whatever it takes, you will be hunted down and brought to justice.� Aggression in the face of terrorism is no vice! Appeasement is!

Lets all of us, while our spirits soar, put our shoulders to the wheel. �Let�s roll!� "If not now, when? If not us, who?"

No, we have not forgotten. And, we never will, not now, not ever!

Written by:
Pat Currie
Easter 2003