A mother whose son is currently in Kuwait, wrote her son asking
how he would feel if she joined an anti-war demonstration.
This is his reply:

Dear Mom:
It's really your decision to march if you want to or not. You are the one who has
to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not.
My opinion is not yours. I do, however, have things I would like for you and
Grandma and everyone else at home to know. I am a United States soldier. I was
sworn to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. People may
not agree with the things we are ordered to do. I would like to address those
people by telling them that terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans,
but to many other innocent people in the world.
What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and freedoms of
others, not because they're Americans, but how about just because they're human?
We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives. They do
business like usual and don't worry about the thought of terrorism actually
happening to them.
The people of 9-11 thought the same thing.
We now know that it can happen to anyone at any time.
Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our security.
I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy expense to ensure
that my family and friends can live in peace.
I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see for
yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard this ship are
feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of something so strong and so
meaningful to the safety of our loved ones. Then you would know what this
potential war is about. We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat
it. We as soldiers are not afraid of what may happen.
We are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand why we are here.
I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us; I ask for your
understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support in what we
are sworn to do:
defend our country and the life of all. We will succeed in our task and will
end the threat of terrorism in our back yard. We will also end the threat of
terrorism in our neighbors'.
We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life, liberty and
justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have to stop the threat
of terrorism.
I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that it's
going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love. My family is first.
My country is where they live. I will defend it

Lonnie J. Lewis

Navy corpsman
*(Address Deleted)*
P. S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time understanding why
we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that others
will know why we are here and what we are here for. I love you all and will be
home soon. I left my address so that if anyone feels like writing to let me know
how they feel, they can.

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