You probably don't know this, but Lieutenant Governor Pat
Quinn has attended all but three of the 92 wakes and/or funerals held for
Illinois servicemen and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. The three
he missed (because he was out of state) were attended by a top member of his
staff.
Quinn doesn't publicize his attendance at the services,
preferring to respect the solemnity of the occasion. His office contacts the
families in advance to ask if it would be appropriate for Quinn to attend. All
have said yes, and about half have even invited him to speak. Otherwise, he
just sits quietly in the church or the funeral home, bearing witness. Just once
has he been asked not to attend a funeral, but that particular family invited
him to the wake.
Quinn has also worked hard on behalf of veterans and
their families. He has helped organize a relief fund for families of active
duty service personnel. He was instrumental in instituting a new Lottery game
with an expected $10 to $12 million in proceeds earmarked for veterans
healthcare. He traveled to Iraq and stayed with some Illinois troops. He has
pushed for a myriad number of bills to help veterans - too many to list here.
As I write this, members of a radical "church"
in Kansas are planning to picket the East Peoria funeral of Marine Gunnery Sgt.
Terry Ball, who died this month from severe injuries sustained in Iraq.
The hateful cult believes that God is killing our
soldiers because America is too tolerant of homosexuals. The group travels all
over the country attempting to disrupt funerals for fallen soldiers in order to
push their own disgusting agenda.
Quinn saw this group up close in Anna, Illinois, at the
services for Army Specialist Brian M. Romines.
The police "handled it very well," Quinn said.
"There was some concern because there were threats of violence." The
services were attended by a large crowd, which showed, Quinn said, "how
the people of Illinois feel about each and every one of their soldiers."
"It will take supreme self control not to react
emotionally to this hateful message," Quinn said, adding "I can't
think of a worse thing for a human being to do" than disrupt a soldier's
funeral. But he thought we should all just ignore this awful group of people
who are "taking the solemn act of burying a hero and trying to use it for
(their) own twisted purposes."
The lieutenant governor said the morning before Sgt.
Ball's services that he hoped "all of us tomorrow will be faithful to Sgt.
Ball and what he stood for."
I have been absolutely outraged by this despicable group
of idiots, but during our conversation Quinn managed to calm me down somewhat
and I eventually caught my breath and asked him what impact attending 89
services for soldiers has had on him.
"It's not about me," he said, "but it's
made me a better person." Quinn maintains that it's important to have
someone representing the state of Illinois to "thank the family for giving
us such a wonderful person."
"In going to these funerals and memorial services
you see how special these soldiers are, how focused on service they are,"
Quinn said. "They're not all the same. They're different people from
different places. It's remarkable, though, that they share this special
characteristic of dedication and serving others."
But Quinn said it was even more important to make sure
that we do all we can for veterans after they return from their assignments.
"I think we should really salute them and do everything possible to help
them back home."
Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball was a hero. He held his men back
while he investigated a suspicious object in the road ahead. It turned out to
be an improvised explosive device, which was detonated by Iraqi insurgents. He
was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
We should honor Sgt. Ball, but Quinn is very right that
we also must remember those who survived and still need help. The thousands who
are physically wounded and many more suffering from post traumatic stress
disorder, which Quinn says has become a terrible problem for Iraq veterans, should
not be forgotten or ignored.
I don't often say this about politicians, but in this
instance I'm glad we have a guy like Quinn on the job here in Illinois.
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Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political
newsletter. He can be reached at capitolfax.blogspot.com.