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Colorado News

Gold Star Moms

Posted: 07/06/2008

Despite Loss, Families Proud of Sons' Service to Nation 

The Gazette, Colorado Springs 

    This is in response to Gazette columnist Barry Noreen's July 3 piece, "Soldier's parents know all about the call to service."

   We, too, are Gold Star Families that know all about the call to service, having lost our sons, Army Maj. William F. Hecker III and Col. Brian Allgood in Operation Iraqi Freedom in January of 2006 and 2007 respectively. In fact, we are members of Carla Sizer's newly formed Gold Star Mother's group. She is an impressive woman who has been proactive in turning her grief into a positive outlet to help others. We admire her very much for that.

   After losing our sons, we found another organization that has been particularly comforting to us. "Families United" is a grassroots coalition of hundreds of Gold Star families from all across our country, as well as many Blue Star families with loved ones serving in harm's way. We know well why the brave individuals in our armed forces choose to serve, and we are like-minded in the pride and admiration we feel for them.

   In spite of our own losses, we share a deep appreciation for our men and women in uniform. We understand the seriousness of the long-term ideological struggle our nation is engaged in, and we support our troops in their efforts to make America safer. We feel it is imperative they be allowed to complete their mission and come home with honor, so our children and grandchildren do not have to face even more threatening challenges to our freedoms in the years to come.

   Noreen seemed to imply that our sons' sacrifices might have been in vain. We respectfully disagree.

Nancy Hecker Cleo Allgood, Gold Star Mothers Colorado Springs

Direct link to article...scroll down the page to find it...

 

Good job Nancy & Cleo! Thanks for speaking out!