America's Mighty Warriors

Mother’s where would we be without them?????? The woman who carried us for 9 months, and then endured the pains of child birth, just so we could live, and that’s just the beginning of the sacrifices that she would make. There would be many sleepless nights, stinky diapers, visits to the Dr for stitches, teacher conferences, wiping away tears, encouraging words, discipline, great sacrifice and tons of selfless love and support. Many Mother’s raised their children as a single parent as I did, which added to the struggles.

At the age of 23 I found myself divorced, with a 3 year old, 18 month old and pregnant. There was no child support, no help and at times it looked like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. My children were the reason I persevered, I had to. It was not easy and I won’t pretend that I was the perfect parent, my children could tell you otherwise, but I did the best I knew how.

With three adult children and 8 grandchildren I now look back and question. “What happened to the tunnel???????” We survived, we made it, and each one of my children are impacting the world in their own unique ways.

Of course today we are going to honor the Mother that God gave us ,hopefully you do that regularly and often, but I would also challenge you to reach out and also honor our military mothers.

A Gold Star Mother is someone who has lost a son our daughter who served  in combat. They have given their very best for this nation, and this is a bittersweet day, one of those days that is a reminder of the loss of our fallen hero. If you know a Gold Star Mother take her to dinner, bring her flowers, chocolate, or a gift certificate for a spa day, just to let her know you remember and you have not forgotten the sacrifice. If you are a Gold Star Mother, my heart understands and deeply embraces you today and AMW is here to support you and I will never forget !

A Blue Star Mother currently has a child serving in the military. They have raised warriors who daily are fighting for our freedoms. Many have their children in the combat zone and they try to carry on and function knowing that their child is fighting the terrorists in the hills of Afghanistan. Thank them for raising warriors and ask how you can support their child serving. To each and every Mother who raised a warrior who fought in any conflict for my freedoms, thank you, job well done. To those Blue Star moms whose hero is deployed, I say, Hooyah, Hoorah, Hoohah, keep, keepin on!

The wives of our deployed warriors who are at home, raising their children and keeping the home functioning and running, filling the role of both Mommy and Daddy until their hero returns. Mow their lawns, babysit, ask about maintenance needs, give them gift cards for dinner or send their hero a care package or note.

Our Mother’s who are in uniform serving their country today in the combat zone and are away from their children. I can’t imagine being a Mother, in combat, away from my children, if you know any of these Mom’s get with their families and help them prepare special care packages with Mommy things, scented lotions, finger nail polishes, buffing pads, chocolate and cards and pictures made by her kids.

Being a Mother was the toughest job I ever had but the most rewarding. I was blessed to be the Mother of 3 children who have impacted the world in their own unique ways and to have Marc for 28 years. Marc’s name means Mighty Warrior and I’m sure you will agree he lived up to that name. He successfully completed his mission and he is in Heaven today because he believed Jesus Christ was his Lord and Savior, and I will see him again one day.

Until then I choose to put on his boots, pick up his weapon and stay in the fight for our troops and the families of the fallen.

So today please accept Marc’s challenge from his letter “to pass on the kindness, the love, the precious gift of human life.”

God bless our Mothers, God bless our Troops, God Bless America!

Debbie Lee

I have gone through a scope of emotions this evening as I learned that Osama had been killed. I received a text from a friend, “we have Osama.” I told my son Kristofer to turn on the news. I listened as I heard that in fact Osama had been killed and that we had the body and had confirmed it was him. I screamed jubilant, joyous screams for justice. I began shaking and thought of my son Marc who willingly gave his life fighting the war on terror which was led by despots like Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. If it wouldn’t have been for Osama I would have my son.

I thanked God for giving us the victory and information which lead to the Navy SEAL’s successful mission of killing one of the world’s most vile, inhuman, deranged men. He was America’s Most Wanted Terrorist.

My phone began ringing and texts and emails frantically began coming in. Oh how I wish Marc was here to celebrate this victory. Somehow I think maybe it wasn’t just humint intelligence that brought this about but somehow think Marc was involved with Heaven Intelligence that helped. Once again the tears flow as I realize how much I miss him.

Through the evening I have thought over and over about all of our braves warriors who gave their very last breath in this fight. We will never forget their sacrifice or their families who have given their very best to this country. Thank you is not enough.

I also think of every one of our men and women who have served so sacrificially, courageously and faithfully in this war on terror. They volunteered to find the enemy that attacked us on 9-11 and bring them to justice for their, horrific, hateful, cowardly actions. To each one of you I say thank you for the sacrifices you have made defending me and my freedoms. You are my heroes!

To my Navy SEAL “adopted sons” I say “Job well done.” MommaLee is so proud of you. As President Bush said you are “the elite of the elite.” I am blessed to be part of the community and have your love and support. You never cease to amaze me.

To the terrorists we send a strong statement, we will hunt you, find you and bring you to justice as we did with Osama. Osama did not find his 72 virgins waiting but found his justice in Hell with another famous enemy of the one true God.

We thank God for hearing our prayers and leading us to victory. May God continue to bless our brave warriors serving in the military and give us victory. May God bless our troops and once again bring us back to our knees to pray that our nation will once again be “One nation under God.”

Celebrating with our Heroes!
Debbie Lee

PS: You can help us continue to celebrate this victory and honor and support our troops and the families of the fallen by making a donation at www.americasmightywarriors.org

Greetings!

Memorial Day weekend has kicked-off and people all over the nation are jumping into their cars, RVs, and Motor homes to take advantage of the three day weekend. Everything is packed and ready to go after weeks of focused planning. Many have anticipated this weekend for months and planned for camp-outs, parties, fun at the lake or beaches, and just a little R&R.

For those who choose to stay home you can take advantage of the “Huge Blow Out Sales” on everything from mattresses to cars, oh and don’t forgot all those sales at the market for that big Bar-B-que. Many kids are cheering as this marked the end of their school year and the swimming pools are opening for the season.

It seems every ad in the newspaper, commercial on TV or banner reminds us to “Celebrate Memorial Day” or wishes you Happy Memorial Day! The majority of Americans don’t even find those statements conflicting, or understand what Memorial Day is really about.

Celebrate….Memorial??????

Let’s check the dictionary….A memorial is an object which serves as a focus, for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event, day a unit of time. Memorial Day was always the 30th of May until 1968 when Congress changed it to the last Monday in May so to allow for a three day weekend, now known as Memorial Day weekend. As a nation we have set aside this time to reflect (to think seriously) and remember (to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory) our brave military heroes who gave their life in combat. This requires effort and serious thoughts not celebration and happiness.

As I child I remember getting together with family for picnics or bar-b-ques. We looked forward to camping trips or trips to the lake. There were a few trips I remember to the cemetery but it was to place flowers on deceased relative’s graves who had never served in the military. I thought Memorial Day was to remember loved ones who had died. I wasn’t taught and therefore I missed the opportunity to teach my children that Memorial Day is to remember those who paid the ultimate price. Freedom comes with a price, it isn’t free.

It really was my son, Marc Alan Lee who taught me about Memorial Day. Please take a moment to watch this tribute video.

I have been on a campaign for years to Reclaim Memorial Day and educate and challenge people about what Memorial Day is really about. Many well-meaning people still choose to make their speeches or advertising about thanking and honoring our troops on Memorial Day. As a nation that’s why we have Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day to do that. Personally I’ve made it my mission to honor and thank the troops every day, but our focus, our speeches, our thoughts of remembrance are to be on our brave warriors who gave their final breath defending everyone in America and what we stand for.

If you are a Gold Star family member every day is Memorial Day for you, not a day goes by that we don’t remember our son, daughter, mother, father, brother, sister, or spouse who gave all of their tomorrows so we could have today. We remember them with pride and pain.

I don’t have to focus or use effort to remember Marc’s smell, his laughter, his grin, his hugs, his playful antics and sense of humor, his voice or who he was and how he impacted every life he touched. He was a gift that God gave me for 28 years and I was blessed that God picked me to be his mother. That young man did more in his 28 years than most do if they live to an old age. Marc successfully completed his mission and I know where he is and I will see him again one day.

I founded America’s Mighty Warriors in response to Marc’s last letter home and our mission is to honor and support our troops and the families of the fallen. I understand Freedom is not Free! I will be that voice for our troops and those who have laid down their weapons and left their boots behind and have no voice.

Have we as a nation placed our priority on fun and self-fulfillment for Memorial Day weekend and forgotten our fallen heroes who died in combat?

Not only will I be remembering my son Marc whose name means Mighty Warrior, but I will be remembering every one of America’s Mighty Warriors who gave their lives, no matter what conflict, what branch of military they served in, how old, married or single, enlisted or officer. I will remember their sacrifice and their families and will live my life in a way that would honor them and make them proud!

I’m challenging you to make the effort this Memorial Day Weekend and REMEMBER those who died so you could have the freedoms you have. EDUCATE yourself, your family, and those in your sphere of influence as to what this weekend is really about and then HONOR our fallen heroes and their families left behind. Attend a memorial event near you, stop and decorate the grave of a fallen hero, watch a movie or read about a fallen war hero, begin conversations reflecting and remembering, find a Gold Star family or teammate of a fallen service member and thank them and show your gratitude and remember to pray for them.

I remember when I was driving from Phoenix to San Diego for Marc’s funeral and we were stopped in traffic because of a bad wreck that had shut down the freeway. I had an envelope with pictures of Marc for the service and remembered looking at people in the cars next to me. Their lives were going on normally and had no clue that my son had just given his life in Ramadi and ours would never be the same. I had this urge to get out of the car and show them Marc’s picture and tell them his heroic story. I remembering questioning my thoughts, how weird, I thought to myself. Since then I have heard that from so many Gold Star families they feel the same, we just don’t want you to forget our loved ones. As a nation we owe it to our fallen heroes, they gave it all for us.

“A nation who forgets it’s defenders will itself be forgotten.”
unknown author

Remembering our fallen,
Debbie Lee

Since my son’s death in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, I have devoted my life to supporting America’s troops, veterans and the families of the fallen. In an effort to continue Marc’s legacy and accept his challenge in his last letter home, my mission is to support, advocate, and honor those who risk their lives in defense of our nation and its freedoms. Marc died fighting for the nation he loved, and we owe it to him to continue his fight.

Most Americans would wonder, “What can I do?” Not all of us can serve in the military, nor as an elected official. Each of us is only one individual, and the threats we face as Americans are great. However, there is a way for each of us to take action against the single biggest threat facing this nation – terrorism. Terrorism isn’t only fought in the mountains of Afghanistan or by FBI agents here at home. Everyday Americans can take a stand, and we must. Defeating terrorism is not only a job for our brave warriors. It is everyone’s responsibility, and it is imperative that each of us take action.

Recently, I was made aware of another way that I could stand against terrorism. I was appalled to learn that many of my investments were in companies that do business in nations identified by our State Department as State Sponsors of Terrorism. Therefore, I was indirectly providing aid to the very terrorists that Marc gave his life to defeat. I knew I had to take action! I’m sure Americans share my sentiment when I say I would never knowingly give any money to any organization that supports terrorism. The corporations who do business in these countries are not breaking any laws, and are not active supporters of terrorist organizations. Yet, when companies sell critical technology, banking services, and myriad other products to one of these states, at the very least the terror-sponsoring government profits from added sales and other taxes. The more money made in these countries means the more money flowing directly into the hands of rogue governments who will use it to harm Americans. If you invest in one of these corporations, your money could be indirectly supporting governments that sponsor terrorism.

Since learning of the impact American dollars have on terrorism and its sponsorship, I have made the necessary changes to ensure my portfolio is free of any ties to corporations that do business in Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan. As of 2011, 54% of Americans held individual stocks, stock mutual funds, or stocks in their 401(k) or IRA (Source: GALLUP).  This means that half of Americans invest, and therefore may be unwittingly funding terrorism. Think of the potential impact if that 54% of Americans committed to disinvesting from Iran, Syria, North Korea and Sudan. By ending support to corporations who do business in states that sponsor terrorism, we would be able to do serious economic damage to their governments. In turn, terrorism would suffer immensely.

Fighting terrorism can, and must, be done from a variety of platforms, not all of which require joining the military. The single most effective way for the average American to combat terrorism is to deprive terrorists of the funds they require to operate. This is not a legal matter; it’s a moral issue. Brave men and women put their lives on the line every day to protect this country. We cannot allow our money to be used to purchase the weapons terrorists use against them. It’s that simple. There is absolutely no reason to designate your funds to companies with connections to State Sponsors of Terrorism – especially when you can earn similar or greater returns elsewhere.

Since disinvesting in these countries, I feel good about another direct action I am taking to fight terrorism. I am relieved and encouraged by the knowledge that my money will not flow into the hands of terrorists like my son’s murderers. I am gratified by the sense of empowerment I feel as I take an active role in the fight against the economic War on Terror.

Withholding investments from State Sponsors of Terrorism is an action with incredible potential. Disinvestment has a track record that proves it works. Federal legislation was enacted in 1986 that resulted in the disinvestment from South Africa, ultimately leading to the fall of Apartheid. Americans make choices daily to support companies with “green” policies, requiring companies to revisit their approach to the environment. Consumers have the power to place economic pressure on corporations, forcing them to make important choices. We must place maximum pressure on companies like GM, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dow Chemical to stop doing business in Iran, Syria, North Korea or Sudan. More than 10% of the S&P 500’s market capitalization is considered infected by association with these State Sponsors of Terrorism. You may be investing in one or more of the almost 700 companies worldwide who do business with Terror States and not even realize the implications of your investment. When the economies of these rogue nations receive dollars and resources from infected companies, the money flows directly or indirectly to terrorists who threaten our troops abroad and Americans at home. It is vital to the success of our mission to defeat terrorism that we disinvest in these companies. They must reconsider their business practices in the interest of the United States of America. We, Americans, have the power to make that happen!

The bottom line is: no American should invest money in companies that do business in State Sponsors of Terrorism. It’s not a legal matter; it’s a moral one. Not every American can physically fight in uniform for this nation, but everyone can take an active stand by refusing to fund the type of terrorists who killed my son.

Mark Langerman is the supporter and financial advisor who educated me about my investments and is leading the charge against terrorism through terror free investing. He has been profiled on FOX news and many other media outlets around the world.

For more information about Terror-Free Investing, please visit http://patriotfund.com
or contact Mark at mlangerman@ascendantadvisors.com 

As I crawl back into bed this morning, hot coffee next to me on my night stand, bible on my lap, I begin to reflect back 32 years ago.

As a recently divorced young, Mom with a 3 1/2 year old son and a 2 year old daughter expecting my 3rd child any day, I headed off to work at 4:00 am as I did everyday. About 10:00 in the morning I started getting some pretty intense cramps. I dismissed them to just more false labor pains, as with my other 2 children labor pains started very intense and just moments apart. Not a by the book 15-20 minutes apart, cramping feeling with increasing intensity.

I continued to work as this was my only means of support for my children. I casually kept an eye on the clock as every 15 minutes or so I would have another round of the strong cramps. My friends nearby were encouraging me to go to the hospital as they thought I was in labor. I kept reassuring them that this wasn’t how my labor proceeded. I finished my shift at noon, stopped and picked up my two little darlings and headed home. Now I’m beginning to think that possibly I am in the beginning stages of labor. My first labor was 5 hours and my second was 3 hours and typically each delivery is shorter. I had an hour drive to the hospital so I wasn’t even sure that I would make it to the hospital with this one?

I lived in a very rural part of Oregon. I’ve never been one to panic or cry wolf, so I would just wait until I was sure I was in labor. As a single Mom this delivery would be very different from the previous two. I would be alone, no one there to hold my hand or coach me in this natural delivery, no one to share in the gift of this precious life. Their father was an alcoholic and very abusive and had tried to kill me and when I realized that his abuse probably would pass on to my children, I fled and filed for divorce. Two weeks later I found out I was pregnant and the Dr thought he heard two heart beats. Yes I was going to have twins and double the size of my family. How would I ever survive??

Two weeks before the delivery they did an ultrasound to make sure both babies heads were down and found there was only one child. I had mentally prepared myself for twins and now there was just one. I was sure I was having twin girls and had girl names picked out but not a single boys name.

By now the pains have increased and are getting closer together. I decide to call my girlfriend who was going to take the children while I had the baby. I pick up the phone to dial and the phone is dead, no dial tone. Not to worry I will just use one of my neighbors phones. I run (okay so at 9 months pregnant I didn’t run, I waddled)  next door but nobody is home. Then I head to the next house, no one there either. Okay, no worry, I still have 2 more across the street, no one there at either one of those homes?? Okay no phone to call for help, no neighbors in this rural community here, HHhhmmmh, Plan C. I’ll just grab my keys, put the kids in my car and drive to the hospital. As a single Mom you have to be creative.

Okay where are my keys??? I know I left them on the table. I scan the entire house looking for them but nowhere to be found? I ask my 3 year old and he replied “Cheryl had them.” Great my 2 year old has the keys hard telling where they are? I begin calling “Cheryl, Cheryl.” Where is she? In the midst of all the craziness she had snuck out the front door and was playing in the front yard. We had just moved into this new home and it hadn’t been landscaped yet so it was just mounds of dirt and there is my darling little daughter who taken off all of her clothes but her shoes and was playing in the dirt. I shake my head and wonder to myself what else could possibly happen today.

I call my 3 year old son Kris to come help Mommy find the keys in all of this dirt. Okay, okay so now I’m starting to panic a little. This isn’t funny. No keys, no phone, no neighbors. The pains are getting much closer and I know my little of bundle of joy will be hear soon.

Time for Plan D, I know I can’t walk very far in labor with a 2yr old and 3 year old. Let’s see the Indians used smoke signals, is that one puff or two for help??? I realize that the only option left is probably that I am going to have to deliver my new little one at home with the help of my 3 year old.

Oh my, let’s see they always boil water on TV when a delivery is about to take place, and towels, will need towels. I’m busy gathering what I think we will need when the phone rings. It’s my girlfriend Sandy who informed me that I had been heavy in her thoughts. I tell her to come get me NOW. On the way to the hospital I retell the events of the morning and what a blessing it was that she had called. I later learned that because of all of the construction in the area someone had cut part of the cable and no one could call out but calls in were still getting through.

I did make it to the hospital and was blessed with a beautiful, tons of dark hair, brown eyed, little boy. “BOY” ??? I was sure it was girl. Now I needed a name for a boy. I’ve just gone through an traumatic day and the process of having a natural child birth with no drugs, all alone and I need a little time to rest, hold my precious gift and enjoy the blessing. The name can wait until later. No matter what I call him that won’t change the gift that I had been given on March 20, 1978.

I had planned on a 3 day stay at the hospital. After all I did have insurance that would cover the birth. My previous deliveries, one of the first questions they asked when they were considering discharge was “Do you have other young children at home?” I was a single Mom with  a 3yr old and 2 yr old. The next questions was do you have help. I had no help, when I got home it was me and the kids. Check, check, and check! That should do it and by me some time. I also had surgery after Marc was born, so I was looking forward to being taken care of several days in the hospital before I went home to my new life as the single Mother of 3 children, 3 and under.

The next morning the nurse came in and informed me I needed to pick a name for baby boy as I was being discharged today as they needed my hospital bed. WHAT???? Okay how do a come up with a name for my precious boy, just like that?

My menu for the day was laying on my tray table and there were other papers near it, with one overlapping on the date of the Menu, March 21st. The paper covered up the h and 21st. What stood out at me was Marc. Marc I like that I thought. That’s it his name will be Marc. Marc used to say “Great Mom you got my name off of a menu?” It wasn’t until years later when I learned that Marc means Mighty Warrior. God had sent a post it note to me that day to give me the name for this young man who would grow up to be a hero that would change the world and sacrifice his life so that other’s could live. Mighty Warrior he was!

This morning as I sat in my bed sipping my coffee, remembering Marc on his birthday, tears flow down my cheeks, knowing how much I miss him. Oh how I wish he were hear today celebrating his special day with family and friends.

As Parents we assume that we will have our children for the rest of our lives. That we will watch them marry, have children, impact the world with their careers, celebrate holidays and take care of us when we get old. That was always going to be my payback for my children One day they would have to feed me, wipe the droll from my mouth and change my diapers.

That wasn’t God’s plan for Marc, or for me. I would have him for 28 years in my life and then would share him with the rest of the world. We need to cherish each and everyday we have with them.

So many people have so many memories of Marc, how he impacted their life and changed their world. I love hearing those stories. Marc not only changed this world by how he lived everyday but how he left this world. He willingly gave all of his tomorrows, his future, so that his buddies could have their today and their tomorrows. He did that so YOU could have your today and your tomorrow. He left a legacy in his sacrifice and his last letter home, his “Glory letter” that continues to change peoples lives today.

John 15:13 says”Greater love has no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” that’s what Marc did. He set an amazing example of love and then in his “glory letter” challenges us to pass on that love. In that letter he says” I’m not saying look at me” because he admits his failure before he deployed. Yet as we look back at Marc’s final actions that day he did pass on “the love, the kindness, the precious gift of human life.”

Marc had an example to follow too, his Father, not his earthly Father who wasn’t part of Marc’s life, but His Heavenly Father. That’s who that verse John 15:13 was originally written about. Christ showed amazing love for each one of us and gave his life so that we could live for an eternity. He calls us friends. Wow! Now that’s even greater love. Marc’s friends tell stories over and over how Marc deeply impacted their lives. You see a friend knows and remembers these things. Can you do the same for Christ? Is he your friend? Can you tell other’s what he has done for you?

I have struggled through numerous tragedies and grief in my life and I have often shared about the strength Christ gives me and that He is my friend. He is the reason that I can get through the deepest pain a parent can go through and survive. He is the reason I have hope. Today as I remember Marc and celebrate his birthday without the honored guest I cling to that hope. I know Marc would want you to cling to that hope also. One day when my time on earth is done and Christ calls me home I know that Marc will be there to escort me into the presence of my King, my Lord, my Savior. I hope you have your reservation in and I will see you there.

In Marc’s honor today and to celebrate his birth please read his “Glory Letter” and pass on “the love, the kindness, the precious gift of human life” by doing a random act of kindness.

Remembering my Mighty Warrior!

HAPPY 4^th! Love ya. P.S. Half way through the deployment– can’t wait to see all of your faces…..those were the final words on my son’s last letter home in 2006. Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee was killed weeks later on Aug 2 as he made the choice 3 different times on his final day to expose himself to enemy fire to defend his teammates and the freedoms that we as Americans celebrate this weekend. He gave the gift of life to his buddies, and the gift of his buddies to me.

I write this as I prepare for the wedding in Texas this evening of one of my “adopted” boys, Marcs Lieutenant who celebrates with the love of his life. If it wouldn’t have been for Marc and his heroic actions they wouldn’t have met. Long story for another time, Congratulations Leif and Jenna!

I am so blessed to be part of the Naval Special Warfare Family. The character of the men who serve as SEALs and go above and beyond is absolutely amazing! The courage and sacrifice that they make for the freedoms that we take for granted every day is overwhelming!!

It isn’t just the Navy SEALs who sacrifice and give exceptionally so that we as Americans can celebrate the great country that we live in and the Independence that brings us to the Bar-b-ques and fireworks on the 4^th. As a Nation we must remember that Freedom isn’t free!

It is every American who has served from different wars, different nationalities and backgrounds who have fought, bled and many have died for those freedoms. It is our Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines whose character steps up setting aside their wants, desires and needs to defend your right to have yours.

It is every Mother whose son’s name is on a memorial wall somewhere across America. I stopped at the Alamo yesterday and held back the tears as I read each name on that wall knowing that another Mother, in a different century, shared the same grief and burden of losing a son as I have.

As I drove back to my hotel I passed Brook Army Medical Center and was drawn to stop and visit the wounded warriors there. I have visited Walter Reed, Bethesda and Balboa Medical Centers on numerous occasions when I was in DC or San Diego, but never had been in the San Antonio area to visit our wounded warriors there.

I prepared myself to enter each room sterilizing my hands and putting on the yellow surgical robes and gloves in the outer room before entering each warriors room. You never know the condition of the hero you will find laying in the bed when you enter the room and you try to prepare yourself mentally to hold back the emotions and shock of the devastation. As I walk in I try not to focus on the injuries but look into their eyes and communicate to them the love and appreciation for their sacrifice. Several of the wounded I visited were missing both legs from the hips down, others were severally burned. I give each one of them a thank you card and Marc’s hero card, chatting with them I challenge them, thank them and give them hope. These are America’s Mighty Warriors who have sacrificed greatly for our nation.

So as you celebrate this weekend our freedoms, our independence, the privilege we have to be Americans remember……remember American Exceptionalism…….remember our founding Fathers and the vision they had…..remember our troops who have fought for our freedoms….remember the cost of those freedoms……remember Freedom isn’t Free……remember as Marc said in his last letter home……”I find that being here makes me realize the great country we have and the obligation we have to keep it that way!”

Marc successfully completed his deployment and has been redeployed to Heaven, however we are still just halfway through our deployments here and we each have something to do to successfully complete our mission and keep our country free. I trust you are doing your part, we have an obligation to our fallen, our wounded warriors and their families.

God bless you..God bless our troops…God bless America! Happy 4^th of July!

Many of us jumped out of bed, made our coffee and started our day just like every other normal day. We effortlessly walked through our daily routine and actions without much thought as to what the day might bring. For most of us there probably wasn’t a great amount of urgency in what faced you in the hours that would tick on your clock today. Oh there are many of us who would love to impact and change our family, our community, our nation or maybe even the world. Many of us have goals and plans to do that for the next year, five years or ten years. We have filled our daily calendars with places to go, people to see and things to do.

In this election cycle we are bombarded with requests for our precious time, our finances, and our voice. How many times do we think I’ll volunteer tomorrow or next week to make those phone calls, canvass my neighborhood, or write a letter to the editor. How often do we think I just can’t give up my today? Tomorrow, I will do it tomorrow.

Let me tell you about a young man who gave up all of his tomorrows so that you could have today. My son, Marc Alan Lee, was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq 8-2-06. He stood out in the direct line of fire three times that day . He choose to use his “today” to defend his buddies, to defend you, to defend me and protect this nation from the Terrorists who want to destroy America and everything we represent. He could have fell to his knees and helped his wounded teammate.  He could have stayed below the protective cover provided by the cement wall on the rooftop. He could have been here today with me and the outcome would have been different for his buddies and their families, but Marc was a young man who valued others lives more important than his own. He recognized the urgency of what he had to do with his last today. He gave up all of his hopes for his future, all of his dreams for tomorrow so that we could have our today’s.

It was a warm August evening in Surprise, Arizona and a small group of friends had gathered as they regularly did on Wednesday evenings. This Wednesday was different as we were celebrating my birthday, which was a week earlier but we weren’t able to get together that week. One of my friends had given me one of the Willow Tree Angels named “Courage.” When she gave it to me she told me that it reminded her of me. She told me “To her I was a Woman of Courage.”

None of us knew at that moment how much courage would be required for me to survive what was about to happen that would change my life forever. As we were finishing cake and ice cream I received what would be the most devastating phone call of my life. My oldest son Kristofer, had called asking where I was and how long it would take me to get home. When I questioned why he said, “You just need to come home.” I had a sick feeling in my being and I knew what faced me ahead. I knew that when I arrived home that I would be informed that my youngest son Marc had died, being the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.

Something inside of me knew when Marc left my home in March of 2006 that he wouldn’t be returning and that would be the last time I would see him. I’m not a fearful, worrisome type of person and I didn’t dwell on that while he was deployed, but somehow I knew. Eighteen months has passed since that dreadful day and as I pondered what part of my trip to Iraq to write about, courage came to mind again. I have wanted to make a journey to Iraq since Marc died, but knew I wanted to wait for a time when the journey would be safe. Realistically I figured that journey would be many years down the road.

When Move America Forward began to make preparations for our third cross country tour this year, “Honoring Heroes at the Holidays,” I was excited to learn that we would be collecting Christmas Cards to send to the troops and that our Rallies in 40 cities would have one goal, to honor our troops who have served and our serving. This would be my third tour with MAF and I was honored to have the privilege to be able to publicly thank our troops, my heroes and encourage others to do the same.

I knew there was something else in the works beside the Tour and when I heard that there was a possibility of a Press embed and that I might actually be able to deliver some of the Cards to our heroes in Iraq, I was amazed! It would have been easy when I was asked if I wanted to go to say no and bow out and stay home, everyone would understand. After all it still is a war zone and my son had been killed there. It took strength and courage to make the decision to travel to the war zone where my son gave up his life. Courage that was given to me from God above.

We had no idea where we would be embedded in Iraq, but I knew that if by some odd chance the doors opened for us to go, I needed to be there. I knew personally what our troops had given and sacrificed for me, for you, for this nation and I wanted to personally thank our men and women who were willing to give their lives for this country they so loved and believed in. I left it in God’s hands and asked him to open the doors if I was supposed to be there and slam them if I wasn’t.

Courage was my companion the night I boarded the C-130 from Kuwait to Baghdad that purposely made the craziest cork-screw landing you can imagine to avoid being shot down by terrorists. It took courage to fly over the city of Baghdad in a Blackhawk as we looked down on the city where Sadaam once reigned! It took courage the night we rode in the streets of Baghdad in the MRAP knowing that I had been instructed not to travel by ground because of the IED dangers! It took courage to put on my body armor and Kevlar and go out on patrol in the Muhalla and walk the streets with the 1-4 Cav unit that we were embedded with! It took courage to stumble to the command post in the middle of the night in my “jammies” to find out what we should do after the explosion that woke me from a dead sleep and even moved the air around my face. It took courage to tell Marc’s heroic story to 350 troops ready to head home for R&R. It took courage to board the Blackhawk in the middle of the night on a secret flight to be taken to Camp Marc Lee, the base in western Iraq named in my son’s honor. It took courage that night to walk where Marc walked his last steps, to see where he spent his last night, to smell what he smelled, to see what he saw and to embrace what he embraced.

Yet it was in the depth of the night there at Camp Marc Lee that I was reminded what real courage is. Real courage was what our troops, my heroes face everyday. Real courage is being willing to give up your right to every thing you want for your future, your memories from your past and even if need be your life to make a better place for others. Real courage is facing the enemy and being willing to pay the ultimate price of your life because you value others lives more important than your own. Real courage is using your voice, your actions, your life, to impact the world and make a difference. Real courage is selfless, noble, true, humble, right, and honorable. That is the description of our men and women serving in Iraq. I witnessed it first hand. I had the blessing to share Christmas and thank thousands of our troops while I was in Iraq and numerous times they would look at me and say “It’s my honor” “I love what I do” or “No, thank you.”

Our Main stream media continues to try and discredit our troops and make them out to be murders and rapists. They distort the statistics and try to brainwash us. I saw first hand on my recent trip to Iraq the moral excellence, integrity and the compassion with which our troops serve. I saw courage displayed in it’s finest forms.

It’s now time for Americans at home to display that same courage. Courage to stand up for what you believe in and know is right. Courage, to get out of your lazy boy and make a difference. Courage, to call or write your Senator or Congressman. Courage, to write a letter to your editor. Courage to expose the lies and confront liberal groups such as Code Pink, ANSWER, MoveOn.org and others who support terrorists and radical communistic ideals. Courage, to vote! Courage to hold the media accountable to tell the successes of our troops and what they have accomplished. Courage, to defend the defenseless! Courage to replace our apathy with action.

My Willow Tree Angel of Courage sits on my desk with her arms lifted high and fists clenched in victory, as if to say, YES!  As a nation that was founded on God’s principles we need to raise our hands high in courage and fight against those who want to remove our freedoms and rights. We need to raise our hands high and thank the one who created us and blessed us to be born in this amazing nation.