Honoring the Fallen Soldiers from Illinois

A Vietnam War Vet lowers the American flag to half mast to honor the 63 soldiers from Illinois killed in the Global War on Terror - February 22, 2005

On a chilly morning, members of Military Families Speak Out gathered at the Thompson Center in Chicago to call upon Governor Rod Blagojevich to honor all Illinois soldiers killed in action in the Global War on Terrorism by lowering the flag to half mast on the day of their burial. In December, Governor Blagojevich issued a proclamation that would honor fallen members of the Illinois National Guard in this manner.

The names of the soldiers were read by the mother of a soldier...and the flag was lowered 63 times, once for each soldier as a bell was tolled in remembrance. Family members and Veterans addressed those gathered and flowers were laid on a flag draped coffin by participants.

Job Description

In a recent conversation, I asked my son how things were going. He proceeded to tell me all about his 30 pound machine gun. This weapon can shoot several rounds per second and he was working to "qualify" with it.

I never permitted guns in my home. Simply put, it only took caring for one child in an ICU who had been shot accidentally to know that guns and the curiosity of a child are a lethal combination. So to say that I oppose the views of the NRA is really an understatement. I was one of those moms who didn't allow toy guns, paint ball guns or BB guns around either. I even returned a Civil War Musket that my grandfather gave me to my parent's home while my kids were growing up....even though that musket had not been fired in over 100 years.

After talking for a while, I asked him why anyone would need a gun that weighed 30 pounds. He replied: "My job is to kill people."

The abyss stares back.