Including the ones who happen not to be heterosexual. The Frontlines, a blog by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, has a tribute to a gay soldier who lost his life protecting others.
Memorial Day is a special time for Americans who have lost loved ones to the service of our country. The families and friends of the more than 4,000 American service members killed in Iraq since 2003 share a special bond rooted equally in grief and pride, emotions we will share as we mark Memorial Day once again this year.
This Memorial Day is particularly salient for me this year as I remember the life of my friend and colleague, Major Alan Rogers. As many people now know, Alan was killed in Iraq by an IED on January 27, 2008. According to his commander, he shielded two others from the blast, who likely would have been killed were it not for Alan’s bravery. Alan was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on March 14th, 2008, in the presence of more than two hundred grieving but proud friends, fellow soldiers, and family members.
I wonder how the army would have proved that Major Alan Rogers was a threat to troop readiness or morale.
Prejudice has a funny way of rejecting the reality of all human beings. I doubt I could have done what Major Rogers did. I have no fantasies about my personal physical courage. Yet I am white, with an English name, married with two kids, so I am presumed to be a real American — at least until I open my mouth. The truth? It is a deep flaw in human beings that so many of us pre-judge people upon a single metric, whether that metric be sexual orientation, skin color, political affiliation or religious belief (or non-belief).
I suspect that everyone in Major Rogers unit could give a damn that he was gay right now. They knew him as a man, a colleague, a brother, their leader. They knew him. Knowledge truly is power for it washes away the fears and lies that deceitful opportunists would have us believe, and expose the truth that each of us is an individual who should be judged solely on the content of our character.
Thank you Terrance, for honoring Major Alan Rogers here today on this blog. His character speaks volumes for those who would deny his humanity and the humanity of anyone who they fear or hate.
The disrespecting of our soldiers has been an underrported scandal. One of the reasons why I want the Dems to be in total control is because I do believe they will at least attempt to do right by our men and women in uniform.
A Hero not only for his willingness to sacrifice himself for his fellow soldiers but for the work he was doing to make things better for everyone as a soldier and an activist.
Thank-you, Terrance, for calling this hero to our attention. My prayers and condolences go out to his friends and family. God bless them all.