Veteran's Day Message

Not long after the beginning of our current war, I attended the funeral for First Sergeant, Edward Smith of the First Marine Recon Division from Camp Pendelton.  He was killed during the initial push into Iraq.  Smith spent twenty years in the Marine Corps and was a reserve police officer for the City of Anaheim.  In fact, he was the only reserve police officer on their SWAT team.  He was due to retire from the Corps and start a new career as a full time Anaheim police officer.  He had a wife and three young children.

I had met Smith while he was alive.  I was a reserve police officer with another city and had returned to military duty shortly following the attack on your nation on 9-11.  My own son was very young at the time.  His death was very personal to me.

First Sergeant Smith was a career Marine.  His young Marines would not be going into combat without his leadership.  Unfortunately, he returned from combat in a flag draped coffin.

I took his death hard.  This Marine was one of the finest individuals our nation had to offer.  As I watched his children clutch his coffin, I wondered if the people of Iraq appreciated the sacrifice our nation was making.  Did they appreciate the sacrifice of First Sergeant Smith's children? 

The following is a link to a tribute page for Smith:

http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/smithedward.html

This upcoming Veteran's Day, think of the sacrifice of First Sergeant Smith and all the other fine young people who gave their lives for our nation.