USAMA BIN LADEN is Dead...America Celebrates
Tonight, President Obama announced that Usama Bin Laden is dead. The images on television show the streets of Washington D.C. and New York City are filling with citizens celebrating this victory that our military's finest brought to fruition. Our military's commitment to our country and preserving our freedom should not go unnoticed, this victory is their victory!! Yet as we celebrate, they are going about their business of fighting this war.
As I see people chanting, 'USA-USA!' my heart goes out to those troops who are still in harms way, those families who still await their safe return and to the families who lost someone on September 11, 2001.
The effort to bring Usama Bin Laden down has been steadfast and enduring. When former President George W. Bush addressed Congress and our nation on September 20, 2001, he proclaimed, "Our nation, this generation, will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause, by our efforts and by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail." Thanks to the resilient efforts of our military these words ring a little truer this morning. They did not falter and they certainly did not fail!!
And we can not forget that his capture came at a price. The attacks on 09-11-2011 took approximately 3000 lives. Since then we've gone to war and we've lost 6018 US military members since that fateful day, (*source Icasualties.org as of 05/02/2011). If you include all the allied forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, there have been 7211 casualties since this war commenced, (iCasualties.org 05/02/2011). Yet their is victory in the news that he is dead, because justice is finally served and our military is to credit.
His death came at a price...and a hefty one. One life is one too many lives in my opinion but that said, the military men and women I know would gladly lay down their life for their country. They understand the risks they signed up for when they joined the military and they did so without reservation. My hat goes off to our military men and women!! Thank you each and every day for all you do!! Without you, freedom as we know it would not exist. The war is far from over at this point, so come home soon, come home safe. As we celebrate your military victory in capturing and killing Usama Bin Laden, our prayers remain with you as you go about fighting the war that is not quite over yet.
