[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 10136-10137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    LETTER FROM A CONNECTICUT SAILOR

  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, we are all so proud of the American men 
and women in uniform who risked and gave their lives to liberate the 
Iraqi people. They performed bravely and brilliantly, proving once 
again that there has never been a fighting force in the history of the 
world as well trained, well equipped, and well motivated as the United 
States of America's.
  Of course, their work is not done. Far from it: serious danger 
remains. Winning the peace will take a sustained commitment. But we can 
already look back with so much gratitude at the sacrifices the men and 
women of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard have made 
for our security and the security of the world.
  In my service in the Senate and on the Senate Armed Services 
Committee, I have heard countless stories of the heroism of those who 
protect us. But just when you think nothing can deepen your conviction 
about the extraordinary character of these men and women, something 
does. Two proud parents from Bristol, CT, passed on to me a letter 
written on February 15, 2003, by their daughter, Barbara. She is an 
Operations Specialist Second Class in the U.S. Navy--she was Third 
Class when she wrote it--serving aboard the U.S.S. Pearl Harbor, which 
was then on deployment to the Middle East. The letter was sent to a 
newspaper in reaction to some coverage that Barbara had read about war 
protests here at home. In it, Barbara explains, more eloquently than I 
ever could, what drives those who risk their lives for our freedom, and 
she reminds us of the unbreakable bonds between those serving half a 
world away and our communities here at home.
  I ask unanimous consent to print the letter in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Dear Editor,
       I currently serve as an Operations Specialist 3rd class in 
     the United States Navy, and there are a few things I would 
     like to clear up for you and for everyone. I serve my country 
     for many reasons, some of which include: pride, love and 
     responsibility. Let me explain . . .
       I am proud to be an American. It may sound cliche, but it's 
     true. I am proud to be a part of the greatest and strongest 
     nation in the world, and I am proud to serve her. It is my 
     duty and my privilege to serve in the United States Military, 
     and I am thankful for the chance to do so. I am by no means 
     an exemplary sailor; by anyone's standards I'm mediocre at 
     best. However, I do what I can. I was raised to be thankful 
     for the freedoms that we, as Americans, take for granted on a 
     daily basis: the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion, 
     the freedom to bear arms and many more. Many countries around 
     the world laugh at our government for allowing us these 
     `privileges' that we take for granted. After all, they ask, 
     how can you maintain authority when dissent is allowed? But 
     we say, how can you not? And that is what makes our country 
     great.
       I am not a warmonger, nor a dissenter. I do not carry guns 
     or cry `fire' in a crowded theater. I am simply someone who 
     realizes that these freedoms that we cherish are not free of 
     cost. I am aware that the cost these freedoms is human lives. 
     A familiar saying, often attributed to Voltaire, captures the 
     spirit of the American military perfectly: ``I [may] 
     disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death 
     your right to say it.''
       Every day we hear reports of people speaking out against 
     the U.S. military, saying that we spend too much, waste too 
     much, and are an archaic set of muscles our government flexes 
     to tell the world that we are still pertinent. I disagree 
     wholeheartedly for one reason: If I were not here spending 
     too much, wasting too much, and flexing my protective 
     muscles, then they would not be able to say that. If they 
     lived in a country like Iraq, they and their families could 
     be put to death for saying that. Think about that before you 
     say that we should do nothing. Think also that the man who 
     runs that country, Saddam Hussein, is building long-range 
     weapons and weapons of mass destruction, intending to aim 
     them at us.
       I love my country, and I love my family and friends. I 
     would rather die than see either of them hurt. I would rather 
     put my life on the line so that they don't have to. That is 
     why I am here on a ship, ready to go to into danger. I'm not 
     saying I'm not scared; I'm terrified. However, I'm more 
     scared of inaction. More scared that if I don't do this, then 
     this man will reach out his hand from his palace and try to 
     hurt the ones I love. I will not allow that to happen. I am 
     on my way, right now, to stand ready to remove this man from 
     power before he can hurt the people I hold dear. Right now, 
     the man I love is over there getting ready to stand against 
     those who wish to hurt the people we love. I pray every day 
     that this does not come to war. I do not want to fight, and I 
     do not want my love to be in harm's way. However, we have 
     already made our decisions. We have realized that inaction 
     now will lead to greater bloodshed farther down the road, and 
     we will do anything to protect the lives of our fellow 
     countrymen. This is our mission.
       I believe every American has a responsibility to America. I 
     don't mean that everyone should join the military. The 
     military life is a hard one, and not a path easily trod. Once 
     my four years are completed, I will more than likely rejoin 
     the ranks of civilians that I work so hard to protect now. 
     However, I have fulfilled at least a part of what I owe 
     America. Everyone has a part to play, be it military, 
     politics, being an activist, or even just helping an elderly 
     neighbor rake their lawn. Each American has a responsibility 
     to every other person in our country. Each of us has a 
     responsibility to every other person in this world. Ani 
     DiFranco wrote ``. . . the world owes me nothing, but we owe 
     each other the world . . .'' I believe this to be one of the 
     most true statements I've ever heard. We, as a species, could 
     not survive without each other, even though it seems at times 
     that we are hell-bent on destroying ourselves.
       I want every person in America to know this: I stand for 
     you. I will take your place

[[Page 10137]]

     in line when the final bell tolls, and I will do it gladly, 
     for I believe that your life is worth it. You are worth every 
     hardship, every effort, and every last breath in my body. I 
     love you. Even if I do not know you, have never seen your 
     face, have never heard your voice, I love you. I do this 
     today and every day for you. So please, do not wave off my 
     gift to you. Don't say you don't want it, just accept that I 
     love you, and will defend you, even if it means my life.
       May your life be blessed,
                                           Barbara Marie O'Reilly,
     OS3 USN.

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