For your 4th of July pleasure:
While many people will be busy celebrating the nation’s birthday with barbecues, fireworks or camping getaways, others will also be celebrating the memory of a fallen Navy SEAL.
With distinguished guests such as Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter; Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, head of the Naval Special Warfare Command; and Medal of Honor recipient Mike Thornton in attendance, a bronze statue honoring Danny P. Dietz Jr. will be dedicated today at 11 a.m. at the Berry Park Extension in Littleton, not far from where he grew up and attended school.
Dietz, a 1999 graduate of Heritage High School in Littleton, was killed in action in Afghanistan two years ago and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross – the nation’s second highest military honor – for bravery under fire.
The bronze memorial by Cañon City sculptor Robert Henderson shows Dietz in battle gear, and was inspired by one of the last photographs taken of the 25-year-old, who had dreamed of being a SEAL from the time he was in middle school.
Of course, no tribute to a fallen military hero would be complete without the requisite bit of tut-tutting from professional handwringers:
Ever since the statue was installed — and then covered — last Friday, members of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group (composed of military veterans) and the Littleton Police Department have been standing guard as both a sign of respect and a deterrent to would-be vandals.
The statue triggered a modicum of protest several months ago when some parents said it was not suitable for young children who might be frightened by the depiction of weapons. They wanted it relocated away from schools, but their request was denied.
No worries. When the movie comes out of Dietz’s life his service rifle can be airbrushed out in favor of, say, a flashlight or a taser.
You know. So the children aren’t frightened by the sight of a bronze gun being held by a bronze soldier who died protecting our freedoms.
Before, you know, heading home to play Grand Theft Auto V: Where’s My Bitches?
Have a happy and safe 4th of July. And if you happen to remember Danny Dietz while you’re slathering some beer mustard on your cheese brat, say a little prayer for his family, and enjoy the birthday celebration for a country whose freedoms we too often take for granted — especially if they happen to find an objective correlative molded in bronze and placed too close to a school for some people’s tastes…
. And if you happen to remember Danny Dietz while you’re slathering some beer mustard on your cheese brat, say a little prayer for his family, and enjoy the birthday celebration for a country whose freedoms we too often take for granted
Amen…with goosebumps
Triggered? Ohmigod!
On the other hand, Rat Patrol’s finally been released on DVD.
I am afraid of people who teach their children to fear American Soldiers.
B-but, it’s a bronze soldier, holding a bronze gun! A-and real guns are made of metal, too! Think of The Children!
#3 B Moe
I am afraid of people who teach their children to fear American Soldiers.
Exactly. Those same people probably get really irritated at the sight of all those flags on the Fourth of July, too… like all those blinkered talking heads at the Alphabet News Networks who were offended at the very idea of wearing a star-&-stripes lapel pin after 9/11.
Prayer made.
I did have a brat, but I didn’t take any freedoms for granted. Just had corn on the cob instead.
I would be worried about the future of children who would be frightened by a bronze soldier statue. I think they have a lot more problems facing them in their days ahead.
Spiny Norman sez, “Exactly. Those same people probably get really irritated at the sight of all those flags on the Fourth of July, too…”
Speaking of that:
http://www.nj.com/forums/morris/index.ssf?extlink?artid=26430
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… Last year, the streets were swept completely clean of the flags, and dumped at her office at the intersection of Route 46 and Crane Road, she said.
One resident, who was not identified, admitted to taking the flags, citing her feelings over the Iraq War, said Pinewood Lane resident Lindsay Morlock.
“The image of the American flag to her just meant something very different. Rather than looking at it like we looked at it, that we should support our soldiers, she had a sort of different image,” said Morlock, 25. “She did sort of apologize for what she had done.”
Lefsky said she chose to let the incident go, and did not report it to police.
This year’s incident, however, was brought to police attention…
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Glen Beck interviewed Marcus Luttrell who was the lone survivor of the team that went on the mission that cost Danny Dietz his life. There’s a transcript here. It’s absolutely chilling, and Danny Dietz was indeed one of America’s finest.
Sadly, one of the bleakest points of that story comes right up front:
A prayer for his family and the other three SEAL’s who died with him on that day. Additionally a prayer for the families of the other SEAL’s and soldiers who died in the rescue attempt.
I just finished reading “Lone Survivor”, a story about this very fight by the one SEAL who survived. I recommend it very highly.
I have to shake my head in disbelief at those who hide behind their kids to object to the location of the statue of a real hero, because they really are just too chicken-shit to come out and say that what they really object to is the statue itself and the very notion of an American military hero.
Perhaps they should reflect on the positive things a memorial such as this conveys. Especially for one who gave his life in defence of the freedoms many of those lard asses take for granted, or consider their ‘right.’
I take comfort in the knowledge that as long as such patriots as Danny Dietz exist, we’ll be safe from all external threats to our country.
I know it’s a minor point, but Grand Theft Auto 5’s title is Shoot My Bitches.
When I hear of men like Danny Dietz, I’m always reminded of a remark by Stephen Ambrose, which I’ll have to paraphrase since I can’t remember exactly which of his books it was in.
“[In World War II] . . . when the Germans, or the Russians, or virtually any other army in Europe moved in to a place, they brought rape and destruction and conquest. When the Americans moved in, they brought chewing gum, and Hershey Bars . . . and Freedom.”
Happy Independence Day!
It’s amazing what one has to believe to believe in gun control. Apparently too controlling replicas of guns erected primarily as context for memorials. Idiots.
“…some parents said it was not suitable for young children who might be frightened by the depiction of weapons.”
I’m sorry, but has anyone, anywhere, in the entire evolution of the human race, found a young boy who WAS AFRAID OF FUCKIN’ WEAPONS????!?!???!!!11>???
I mean W…T…F…
Effin’ pussified idiot pacifist parasites.
Statues of soldiers without weapons are like Lady Liberty without a torch, that French Lady Liberty with both boobs covered, Justice with eyes wide open, Venus De Milo with a French manicure, Bob Hope without a golf club, Groucho without greasepaint, or a Popeye cartoon without punching. Scare children? Sometimes I wonder why the hell not?
Amen, Jon.
On a related note is this, the story of Victoria Cross winner, Bill Henry Apiata. Spiritually, a thought-ptovoking story.
A picture of the memorial to a fallen hero:
http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/20077512035.aspx
If you really want to make their heads explode pass a federal law that all public schools must be named after a GI that lost his/her life doing their duty, accompanied by a life size bronze statue showing them armed for battle.