I went to the Yankees game yesterday. After the familiar sounds of victory — Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” followed by Sinatra’s “New York, New York” — my girlfriend and I walked against the crowds surging toward the subway, across Jerome Avenue to a stately hillside building that was once Woodycrest Children’s Home, the building where her mother was raised. As we snapped a few photos, an elderly gentleman approached us and asked what our connection to Woodycrest was. He too was a product of the group home, and Jenny provided him with the names of her relatives that had grown up there. Had he known her mother, Isabel Martinez? No. Her aunt, Alyce Martinez? No. Her uncle, Joe Mojer? The old man’s eyes lit up. Yes, he had played basketball with Joe. Joe was quick on the court and well-liked off of it. I felt the warmth of the old man’s memory, his connection to this old building that was once something else.
I learned of Osama Bin Laden’s death last night the same way I learn of all deaths: via Twitter. I turned on the TV, gleaned what information was available, and felt — for the first time since I became a writer — a complete and profound loss of words. Twitter and Facebook were exploding, but I closed them without typing a letter. I felt that I should be doing something to make the moment memorable: popping champagne, hugging loved ones, kissing strangers — but it was 11 o’clock on a Sunday night. My roommate was asleep. The only company I had was my dog.
I poured myself a bourbon and called my friends from the Marines, the men who’d commanded tanks with me on the way to Baghdad eight years ago. Bin Laden’s death was the impetus for the phone calls, but the conversations soon turned to other subjects: wives, kids, jobs. The last time I spoke to Jeremy was in February after the Super Bowl. The time before that, his birthday in July, I got his voicemail. We don’t talk enough.
It was after midnight when I got off the phone and finally watched Obama’s speech. I was drunk and needed sleep but went out to a bar because Bin Laden was dead, goddammit. I was hoping for a party, a collection of firefighters and veterans toasting the fallen and celebrating long-sought closure. But there were no firefighters. No veterans. No closure. Just a handful of people drinking on a Sunday night. My only company was a Vietnam draft dodger. He had a wife, two grown daughters, and a bushy white beard that he’d had since he moved to the neighborhood 40 years ago, back when 7th Avenue was all head shops and dive bars. I asked the bartender for a Baker’s on the rocks but he misheard me and poured a Grey Goose. I drank it.
I stayed and talked to the guy with the white beard until last call because it beat drinking by myself and talking to my dog. It wasn’t fun or memorable, but at least I got drunk. At least I’m still alive. The same can’t be said for the three thousand people who died on 9/11 or the six thousand servicemen who’ve been killed in combat since then or the unfortunate people of Iraq and Afghanistan when war landed on their doorsteps. Not Brian McPhillips, who was shot in the head south of Baghdad in 2003. Not Andy Stern, whose last act was identifying and reporting an IED before it blew up and sent steel through his head. For the last eight years, I’ve been trying to attach some kind of meaning to all the death around me — to the deaths of my friends, and to the deaths that I caused. So much human life snuffed out: thousands upon thousands of dominos knocked over because of the actions of one man.
I walked home with tears in my eyes, thinking or perhaps hoping that my friends died for a reason. I thought of the old man at Woodycrest: I saw him going through old memories and names he’d known decades ago, searching for connections. We’re all searching for connections.
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Thanks Matt. I was going to ask for your thoughts on this but you beat me to it.
“I felt the warmth of the old man’s memory, his connection to this old building that was once something else.”
That right there is a beautiful turn of phrase. Thanks for sharing, thanks for serving. The next bourbon (bulleit, more than likely) I drink I’ll toast to connections and to your fallen brothers. Cheers. . .
Thank you to you and each and every other member of the United States armed forces, active or retired.
I like tewtules.
Matt, thank you and thanks to your fellow servicemen for all that you have done.
All too often, soldiers are portrayed as mindless, hyper-conservative, homophobic, violent dickbags (this includes a family member of mine). You seem to be the exact opposite, and I appreciate it. Thank you for sharing your experience, however conflicted or confused, as it provides a great perspective from someone who’s been to war and fortunate enough to tell about it afterward. Thank you for adding another view to this event. After initially saying “sayonara sucker” on Facebook, I followed it up with this: “To be clear, when I say “sayonara, sucker” about Bin Laden, I’m not celebrating his death, exactly. It’s awful that anyone needed to die. What I’m celebrating is the removal of an influential personality in others’ deaths and the (hopeful) weaking of the resolve of those who would try to kill others needlessly.” I hope we can all begin to experience this with the thoughtfulness and restraint that you’ve shown.
Finally, from someone who was never strong enough to go into the military, thank you for your service. Our armed forces are often underappreciated until we really need them, and that’s a shame.
What did Iraq have to do with bin Laden again?
*hyuk hyuk hyuk*
God Bless.
Thanks, for everything
I’m not one who normally posts to the comment sections, but I read this site just about everyday.
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this post.
I come here for laughs, today I got a lot more.
Thanks
Always grateful to our military.
Excellent read Matt. I was wondering how people more directly affected by 9/11 and the events after would feel about this, it’s nice to get that insight.
Thanks for that Matt. I’m an Army brat and a New Yorker and was also at a lost for words. Grossed out by the cheering kids in D.C. but it feels like there should have been something. A solemn drink shared to appreciate all the brave soldiers and try to understand all the horrific things they’ve been asked to do.
Thank you for going where most men won’t, thank you for reacting like most men should.
Here on the west coast, I whooped and hollered more when Kent & Vyksin were eliminated from the Amazing Race an hour after President Obama’s speech. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad he’s dead. I hope it makes a difference. That difference being that more of our service men and women get to come home alive.
Very moving. Thank you, and all the soldiers, for their service.
A sincere thank you from someone who has had two in-laws serve overseas (with one going back in a few months). There’s nothing I could do to repay all our soldiers for their sacrifice, but hopefully you’ll accept the pageviews I give you everyday as a small token of gratitude on their behalf.
I find the whole “this doesn’t change anything” backlash a bit frustrating. Clearly this doesn’t CHANGE anything. But I also think it’s a tad inhuman to diminish the emotional and cathartic value of revenge for its own sake. You kill 3000 people, you fucking die. That’s the rule. There’s a reason there’s no statute of limitation on murder.
Anyone arguing against the value of killing Bin Laden has probably never lost a loved one to a violent act. If you’ve had a loved one taken from you, you know damn well how sickening it is to have the killer breathing and eating.
Thanks Matt.
And thanks to everyone who served, serves or will serve.
Thanks, Matt. Beautifully written.
damn, a person comes here for laughs and leaves with misty eyes… I need to go stuff a nerd in a locker or something. Good on ya Matt.
Came for the dick jokes, stayed for stuff like this. Keep on keeping on.
Thank you, and god bless.
I remember my grandfather, who continuously earned his US citizenship up and down the terrors of WW2 Europe. For years he felt satisfied, felt that with the crushing of the Nazi war machine some how made the horrifying experience of watching his friends get blown to pieces in war sting just slightly less. And then 9/11 came along. The only time I’ve even HEARD that my Grandfather cried was when the Twin Towers fell. Suddenly a life time of sacrifice and loving your country seemed incomplete. Like it wasn’t worth anything if it could all get screwed up that easily. He died before they got the man responsible for that and I’ll always kind of wonder, be haunted really, if his faith in his nation was forever shaken after that day. That he lost something precious having died without seeing some sort of justice be done. It’s good to see the Son of a bitch dead, it’s bad that so many people aren’t alive to see it.
Well done Matt.
beautiful…
Well said, and I’m sorry your dog isn’t a better drinking buddy.
When we, not just Americans but people in general, confront evil or injustice, obviously our strength matters, but so does our dignity, maybe even more. You’ve got both, Matt, and not just America but the whole world could use a lot more like you.
Bravo, sir. And thank you.
Thank you for all you’ve done and all you continue to do.
I’m glad this wasn’t just another “har har hope he burns in hell”. Thanks, Matt.
landed on our doorstep? i am pretty sure the war was in iraq….and bin laden was not iraqui..i am pretty sure he was from afganastan..the same place where we are training their natives to be mersonaries..and actually.. Donald Rumsfelt..THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE straight up announced on a live press conference that they as in the united states government had failed to connect Osama Bin Ladin, your boogie man to any part of the 9/11 attacks or to Iraq…sorry to say buddy but your friends lost their lives for Corrpurit intrest in the united states…
Thank you Matt.
Hey Beverly. Shut the fuck up.
Thanks Matt. God Bless.
I felt compelled to share this link with Reddit. I appreciate this opinion much more than the majority of those I’m seeing and hearing at the moment.
Thank you for your service, and your friends lives were not lost in vain.
@beverly
What an astonishingly insensitive, irrelevant, poorly spelled response to a man sharing his complex emotions and loss with us. Kindly get fucked.
I am a first-generation American, however I have lived in NY my entire life. Truth be told, I have always been more proud to be a New Yorker than an American, that was, until yesterday. We, personally, lost many loved ones on 9/11, and I know that there is still a long way to go in the Middle East, which is where I was from. The jubilation I felt last ignited my patriotism for the first time. All I want to say is, “Thank you” to everyone who was been involved with the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We all appreciate it.
And before any assholes say, “What does Iraq have to do with this?” STFU, I can finally realize that these men joined up, partly, because of their experiences on that September day. They are all better men and women than I will ever be
Hey dumb cunt shut the fuck up!!! To quote all the babies too sensitive for provable facts. Nice job of reinforcing those “freedoms” that soldiers are supposed to be fighting for.
Who would have thought that someone named WHOWILLSEXTHEMUTOMBO? (brilliant, btw) would have solved the conflict in my head so succinctly and perfectly?
And Thanks Matt for your insight into why, despite my reservations about Iraq, it makes me so damn proud to be American. The soldiers like yourself and my best friend who put your ass on the line when asked.
My friend said when he got home from his tour in Iraq: “I’m glad I went because I knew I the best guy for the job and that I would do all that I could to protect my guys and they were the best to protect me.”
I get that same feeling reading all of your war-related stories and how fucking pissed I get when people use the word “warrior” for anybody but soldiers like yourself and my friend. Thanks.
Thanks, Matt – for your service, for your thoughts. Wheew, that’s about all I can say for now, other than that it’s pretty dusty in here right now.
@FSJ – Blame it on the hayfever. That’s what I did when I read this.
Thanks, Matt. My dad was a SEAL for 20 years. No lack of love for the military and their service in our family.
Thanks for your perspective and your service, sir.
Great post, Matt. Thank you for everything.
Late to the thread, so let me just offer a hearty second to what everyone else here said.
Except, of course, for Beverly, who apparently suffers from some kind of severe strand of Asperger’s Syndrome. Or maybe she’s just a fucking idiot.
Great post. Here’s to you and your fallen brothers. Cheers, sir.
In all seriousness, one of my first thoughts when I found out last night was, “I wonder what Matt from WG is going to say.” It wasn’t my FIRST thought…that was, “Are you fucking kidding me, who got fired? Was it Star Jones? Please tell me it was Star Jones.”
Matt,
I never served, but I worked in the trade center, and watched the planes fly into the buildings. Watching them come down, walking over the Brooklyn Bridge covered in dust and god knows what. Wondering who wasnt accounted for. Remember coming home to a one year old daughter. Then getting the calls. Was I ok, has anyone heard from… etc. Last night and today brought up some stuff. Anyone who watched the fireman walk into the building as people were coming out saw the true definition of hero. And those that chose to serve, have my absolute respect and gratitude. Thanks for this. Tonight will be the drunk night for many of us.
I’m Canadian (I know, I know, I hate us too) but my brother is in the military and I have great respect for anyone who has served. As everyone else has said (except for the morons, like Beverly up there), thanks for everything Matt
I will always remember where I was when I watched the towers fall on tv. (I still remember what class I skipped to watch the news coverage – Soc 203) I’m positive I’ll always remember where I was when I heard Bin Laden was killed.
Thanks to our military service-people and their families. I appreciate my freedoms very much – thank you for protecting them.
America FUCK YEAH!!
Thanks Matt. I’ll buy the Bakers the next time we meet.
Larry Avery, (Jeremy’s father-in-law)
Thank you.
Lurker, non-commenter, blah blah…Thank you for this and thank you and your brothers for your service. Your fallen friends died gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can all be free. Even that poor girl up there with the obvious brain disease. You are all heroes.
I hope those who have lost loved ones can find a little more solace knowing the man who helped start the unrest of the last decade is gone.
Also, lets hope our country can stay vigilant and make sure there is no retaliation from terrorists either at home or abroad.
And thank you Matt. Truly. I don’t think I could do what all the men and women of the Armed Forces do everyday.
I find the gathering in the streets a little hypocritical, seems exactly like what people in the middle east did around september a decade ago. We killed thousands of them, they kill thousands of us. What fucking difference will this make.
Great perspective.
Hooah
Look I don’t want to shit on everyone’s parade, but 300O Americans dead versus one million Iraqis dead hardly seems fair for something they had no invlovement in…
Well said Devil. I’m headed to the good ole ‘Stan in a couple of months. I hope people still remember that just because Bin Laden is dead does not mean our job is done. I just wish I would have joined the marines earlier in life so I could have made a bigger impact on the outcome of this war.
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother”
Semper Fi
@ James – I don’t think anyone said that anything about what’s fair.
Thanks to you and all our armed services! God Bless America
You forgot Justified
“What fucking difference will this make”
Jesus, the dipshittery is strong with this one. The killing of Bin Laden is not about making a difference, it is about getting revenge against the man who masterminded the murder of thousands of Americans. Of course there are other aspiring terrorist leaders out there who follow the exact same ideology that Bin Laden did. And they will scheme and come at us again. But yesterday, one mass murderer of Americans got what he deserved. And that feels pretty good.
Anyway, just another everyday reader of the site who never comments dropping in to show my appreciation for the website, your military service, and particularly for sharing your thoughts on this day. Well done.
Thank you Matt, thank you every man and woman who does what needs be done, what we can only imagine needs be done so that we can live in a better world. You deserve more than just one thank you or just one drink, even though I know you’re too good a man to say so. This makes me realize I don’t say thank you enough.
And fuck Beverly.
This was beautiful, Captain Ufford. Thank you for your words and your sacrifice.
-career firefighter, corgi lover, regular Warming Glow reader
Matt, I truly appreciate everything you and your fellow soldiers have done for this country.
Hey Beverly, go fuck yourself with a rusty stick. Wait…
Hay Bevrly, go fuck yerslef with a rusty stik. Hopefully that translation helps, you illiterate, insensitive, backwards thinking tard.
I’ve never commented here. I’ve never served. However, when I read posts like this I feel a relation to those who served on my behalf (no homo).
Thank you for this post, and thank you and anyone who reads this for serving in our armed forces.
I will also pour a bourbon for those who fell, on 9/11 and after.
I’m going to watch Restrepo, pour a drink for Tim Hetherington, and continue to live tomorrow as if nothing’s happened.
Thank You. Connection made. Life can be ugly and beautiful all on the same day. Your story is so well written and the connections it makes will aid in healing for anyone who reads it. Blessings, Thank YOu
As always Matt thanks for your service andfor sharing your experiences.
Beverly, if you’re not in fact a spineless troll having a sick laugh (which I strongly suspect you are), I heartily invite you to seek out an Al Quaeda ‘Lara Logan party’.
Matt, words fail. A heartfelt ‘thank you’ is what I’ve got to offer.
Mr. Ufford (As a devoted reader of Warming Glow, i would love to call you Matt but was raised calling anyone who carried/s a firearm professionally Mister and Miss)-
The minute I heard about OBL’s death, there was something missing. I felt weird for not wanting to storm the white house with my fellow DC residents or Tweet a snarky comment along the lines of “Osama bin shot”.
There was a heaviness in my heart that I couldn’t explain until I read your piece. A friend and teammate from my high school soccer team was killed by an IED in Iraq on 9/3/06. PFC Nick Madaras was as loyal of a friend and patriot as any person i’ve met. He was a superhero. I kept praying that something would validate the loss of such a wonderful, caring human being. I tricked myself into believeing that, at some point in the not too distant future, we would catch Osama and we’d all get to be happy again.
We will never forget the horror and pain felt over the past ten years.
I wish I had some concluding remark that would sum up just how lost I feel about this news. I’ve been trying to think of one for 3 hours while this comment lies dormant in an unused tab on my work computer. That may be why we feel so confused. There’s no easy fix that will make us feel better. Even the death of OBL. I mean, Hitler died nearly 70 years ago and I still cringe at the mention of Auschwitz. The pain is dampened but still present. Just as the images of the falling towers will be taught to numb 3rd graders in 2045 while they watch that Nicolas Cage atrocity the same way we watch “Glory” in history classes.
Ah. Rambling again. I’ll just try to wrap it up. Thank you for indulging me while I try to make sense of it.
Here’s hoping you find what you’re looking for, sir. I’ll be looking, too.
p.s. I’d be remiss not to mention the charity started in honor of Nick. http://www.kickfornick.org sends soccer balls and equipment to children in Iraq. Thank you again (you know… for your service).
First, don’t insult MU with the word “soldier”–a marine is a whole nother thing.
Big up to the soldiers though.
I served in the Navy–remember the Navy? We killed Bin Laden–and I think I have the same reaction to your inspired words above that all military people will have:
you a queer.
Whee! Ooh rah.
Glad to see that the only way you can think of celebrating Bin Laden’s death is to get loaded at a dive bar by yourself on a Sunday night. That’s Army Strong.
Ahh, revenge. The call of duty generation.
This post is just another reminder that you’re not only a funny bastard, but you’re also a damn fine writer, and you seem to be a quality human being as well. I’ve been a KSK reader for years and got pulled over here when you started the blog… and as much as I do love TV, I’m really Herr for the writing. You did a great job here trying to describe what a weird feeling news like this inspires. Thanks Matt.
Very well written piece Matt,
Thanks again for your service and thoughts.
Late to the post as well, but thought I’d share my experience flying out of the east coast back home to the west this a.m….about 10-12 service men / women got on our plane (just about the last to board) and got the most raucous applause I’ve ever hear inside a plane, followed by a somewhat half-hearted and short U-S-A! chant. Later, a guy in my row (even though flying somewhere for business no doubt) ordered a drink fairly loudly and proclaimed, “and for anyone else that wants to drink to that asshole’s death”. Needless to say I, and many others accepted. Yes, it was cathartic.
I never comment on this site, but always read. I must say, regardless of the fact that I’m canadian, you sir have my utmost respect. Cheers.
Thank you for your service and writing such a great piece.
If I were to be critical of this as a piece of writing, I would say that using the old guy as a book-ending tool was unnecessary, and using “connections” as the connection was a little forced.
That’s *IF* I were to be critical.
Beautifully written. I got the same feeling as when I read a Hemingway short story.
Men like you, who have served our country so honorably, are the reason I get chills and tear up every time I hear the National Anthem. Gratitude does not begin to cover it, but I add my “thanks for your service” to the rest.
@spazmodic: there is a time and a place, dude. This was neither. Uncool.
If *I* were to be critical, I’d complain that this piece opened up by mentioning a Yankees victory. It always sets my teeth on edge to hear anything positive about those jerks.
Otherwise, well said, Ufford.
@PhxMST3Kgirl: sure, it may not have been the time, but this most definitely is the place. Superdupercool!
Have very mixed feeling about this.. On the one hand, good riddance. On the other hand, one has to wonder whether fighting fire with fire is the right choice.
The spontaneous displays of patriotism and American superiority on tv certainly didn’t make this any more enjoyable. Kind of reminds me of people in the middle east celebrating after 9/11.
You may now start insulting me.
Schamotnik, surely no one here will insult you just for stating your opinion. This is a TV blog!
Got chills man. Thank you for your service.
@spazmodic sure thing.. that’s why I come here..
@Nate
Holy shit, what a small world. I’m from Wilton, CT born and raised and I grew up with Nick Madaras as well…I still remember how solemn and unusually quiet the whole town was after the news of his passing swept through. Your description of him was spot on, he truly was a selfless individual.
Tonight, raise a glass and take a moment to honor those we’ve lost along the way, and those that continue to stick their necks out for ours.
Like a lot of the others on here, I never comment but I just want to thank you Matt, for your post and for your service.
And I’m going to choose to read Beverly’s post as a wildly insensitive attempt at meta humor because I don’t know if I can live in a world where someone can both misspell “corporate” and diminish the selfless sacrifice of thousands in under 150 words. Strong challenger for troll of the year regardless though.
Like many who have already commented, I’ve been a faithful lurker for years. I do, however, feel compelled to come out of the shadows and thank you for this amazing piece of writing and your service. We wouldn’t have such a great country if it weren’t for heroes like you.
Well done, sir. Thank you.
Im pretty much the same as the rest, loyal reader and never served. My roomate, who is a SSgt in the marine corps, and I wore our American flag bandanas around Queens today and everyone greeted us with the same smile and warmth. When we wore the same bandanas to the gym last week, all we were shown was dirty looks. The celebrating in the streets may have been a little out of line, but it’s a damn good feeling to see people appreciate what people like you, my friend, and every other member of our armed forces out there do for us everyday. Oh and more corgis please
Nice words man. Thanks for sharing, thanks for serving.
Great read. I have such faith in our troops but a little less in us as American citizens. Fast and the Furious Part 354 grossed $83 million dollars? WTF!
I’ve shed a tear or two while reading your posts before -but that was from laughing too hard. You are truly a talent, sir. Thank you for your honest words and valorous service.
Nice, Matt. This was a night for somber (not sober) reflection, and sharing the moment with fellow OIF/OEF vets. I did the same, minus the bourbon, cuz after all, i’m an Army pogue.
Watching the live footage of what was going on in D.C. after President Obama’s announcement made me ashamed to be a young person. Jubilation is good, taking a historic development and using it as a typical college excuse to go out and party like a dumbass is something else and is deplorable. It makes light of how solemn the meaning behind President Obama’s address was.
Matt,
First off, I stumbled upon WithLeather several years ago and ultimately kept coming back because of your writing. It took awhile but I finally made it over to this site, again mainly due to your writing. You’re an awesome writer and this post proves it.
Now then, I want to thank you and your brothers for all you have done for this country. There are times where I like to think that I could join the armed forces and make it and do something great but I always come to the realization that I would be lucky to make it through a week, let alone a year or more. A friend of mine actually just left within the past week, I believe it’s his third time over there now.
In regards to your post: I too was left without much, if anything, to say. I saw my Facebook feed blow up and instead of joining in I just closed it. No witty comments, no virtual high-fives, no spontaneous drinking with friends. I simply told my parents about it and went off to work. I still don’t know if this is the closure I’ve been looking for since the terrorist attacks on September 11th and I probably won’t know for several more years to come. I hope it’s at least a step in the right direction.
@Left Eye: I’m glad I’m not the only (younger) person who felt that way. Every time they cut to that I felt uneasy. I know people were happy, but as you said something felt deplorable about what they were doing.
I never served, but my dad did, much respect for him and all who do the same. Very rarely do I comment here, but writing like that is what makes me a constant reader. Thank you.
Well said.
Spaz – I thought the way Matt brought the story of the old man together at the end to make a powerful point was great writing.
And for those who make snide remarks about servicepeople fighting in far away places to make us, and the rest of the world, more secure, fuck off. Servicemen and women who go into harms way deserve our respect and admiration. Every single one of them has to overcome physical and mental hardships. You’re entitled to your opinions, but shoving negative crap in the face of someone who has gone through things that you and I will never experience is stupid.
Every day I ride a commuter train in to work in downtown DC. Every day I watch dozens and dozens of service men and women get off the train in Crystal City, in sight of the Pentagon.
Today I’ll buy a flag on the way home. And when I hang it in front of my house, I’ll think of you. I’ll Jeremy, and Brian McPhillips, and Andy Stern. And I’ll think of the draft dodger and of myself, who can’t thank you enough.
Thanks for sharing your reflection Matt, and of course your service.
God Bless you Matt, thank you for serving our country. You are greatly appreciated by many.
Matt – your piece was forwarded to me by a colleague at work who thought I should read it. I’m glad I did.
…that piece of saccharine crap made me want to throw up… fucken hell… you really think his death signifies closure? I bet the wizened ol’draft-dodger got a good belly-laugh out of yr dumb-arse bullshit.
Matt,
I’ve been a fan of your writing for sometime now. I originally found this sight when Everyday Should Be Saturday linked to your charity work with Wounded Warriors, but I’ve been reading KSK for years off an on without realizing the connection.
I lived and worked in Manhattan on September 11th and later became a firefighter in a small town when I moved back home because of the events of that day. I eventually had to leave that life after struggling to cope with the deaths and injuries of my friends and neighbors. This post hit home to me in ways I never expected for a humor site.
Firefighters are often praised and declared heroes because of the sacrifices the FDNY made that day, and rightfully so, but too often the other heroes are overlooked, namely the police officers who also made sacrifices that day, and the men and women like yourself who joined the fight to make sure something like that never happens again.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Words cannot express the debt of gratitude you’re owed from the rest of us. Let not those like Vern, Ronson, Beverly, and their ilk weigh on your mind. They do not speak for the majority of us and would likely not express their feelings without the anonymity of the internet. They apparently have no ability to separate the political from the personal.
/TL~DR
//Late to the party so no one will see this
an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind- Ghandi
Thank you, Matt, for your words. It was interesting, and a testament to your writing, that one of my first thoughts when I heard the news was if you would do a post about this. I thought you might not, because it is so personal and close to you. You did a great job of capturing the many emotions going through your head. Congratulations on another excellent writing job.
As for me, I was disgusted by the opportunistic college kids trying to get laid by displaying faux patriotism. A real patriot serves his or her country like you did or in other ways. Regardless, a patriot does it with class and understanding. That doesn’t mean you can’t be happy or get some sense of satisfaction out of it. It just means you remember those that died or were injured because of the asshole and/or in his pursuit.
Thank you again.
Matt, my father was a Marine and I have several friends in the Marines and Army, one of whom lost his life in Iraq, there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of the service they’re doing for their country. I’m touched by your post and commend you for so artfully expressing what many of my service buddies feel. Great Job. OOH-Rah!
@Beverly: you need to re-read the article, Matt said “when war landed at THEIR feet” (emphasis mine), I think he understands most Iraqis and Afhans did not choose war.
@Vern, Ronson, etc: If you do not believe in justice, go take your BS elsewhere, why read and then troll?
Hey Matt….I’m a former Recon Marine who got out after one tour in Iraq, and wanted to say that I spent the night with a few glasses of scotch thinking the same damn things. Good post, Semper Fi.
This was a nice read. Good work, Matt.
UFF,
Well written and well said. After catching up tonight it was not a suprise that you were left with a similar feeling. I guess we were on the same wave length in our reactions. I was not near any booze or I would have probably gone out and had drinks with some strangers as well. I think my experience would have been like yours.
My thought when I heard the news was F him, and then a great sense of loss for those that died as a result of his actions. I am glad he is dead but am struck by my sadness of those taken by his galatic jackassery.
OGES
PS- those are 2 jail-house jacked dudes flanking you! (Said for me and the jackal in his absense)
Long live the WSOD!