Another reminder of why we fight
William Bennett's book Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism, is a thoughtful piece explaining the reasons why it is necessary for the United States to continue to engage in the war on terror. Here is another reason:
"The [New York City] medical examiner's office has exhausted all of its attempts to identify the remains of those killed at Ground Zero - robbing more than 1,000 families of at least a small measure of comfort . . . .
"The medical examiner's office pushed the limits of forensic science after the attacks. Of the 2,749 who died, 1,588 have been identified. But 1,161 victims - almost half of those killed - remain unidentified. And now no more can be done.
"Only eight victims have been identified since September. If some still-incomplete lab tests prove successful, a few more victims could be identified later this year, [Dr. Robert] Shaler[, director of forensic biology at the medical examiner's office] said. The city has 9,720 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the long list of the dead. The remains are to be preserved at the memorial at Ground Zero.
"Terry Strada, whose husband, Thomas, 41, was killed in the attacks, said even the slim chance of his remains being identified in the future is comforting. 'It's pretty devastating to think that you didn't get him back and you might never get him back,' said the mother of three. 'It's hard to explain that to kids.'"
It's a tragic yet unavoidable circumstance related to the devastation of September 11, 2001. The federal government, charged with providing for the common defense of the nation, has a duty to make certain that justice is done for the victims. It is difficult to read this story without recalling the words on the Tomb of the Unknowns: "Here rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God." Those veterans made the ultimate sacrifice defending the nation. These citizens also made a sacrifice, unwittingly, and are forevermore known but to God. Here are the president's words from his September 20, 2001, address to a joint session of Congress, which we are well-served to remember when hearing news like today's:
"Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us. Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."
"The [New York City] medical examiner's office has exhausted all of its attempts to identify the remains of those killed at Ground Zero - robbing more than 1,000 families of at least a small measure of comfort . . . .
"The medical examiner's office pushed the limits of forensic science after the attacks. Of the 2,749 who died, 1,588 have been identified. But 1,161 victims - almost half of those killed - remain unidentified. And now no more can be done.
"Only eight victims have been identified since September. If some still-incomplete lab tests prove successful, a few more victims could be identified later this year, [Dr. Robert] Shaler[, director of forensic biology at the medical examiner's office] said. The city has 9,720 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the long list of the dead. The remains are to be preserved at the memorial at Ground Zero.
"Terry Strada, whose husband, Thomas, 41, was killed in the attacks, said even the slim chance of his remains being identified in the future is comforting. 'It's pretty devastating to think that you didn't get him back and you might never get him back,' said the mother of three. 'It's hard to explain that to kids.'"
It's a tragic yet unavoidable circumstance related to the devastation of September 11, 2001. The federal government, charged with providing for the common defense of the nation, has a duty to make certain that justice is done for the victims. It is difficult to read this story without recalling the words on the Tomb of the Unknowns: "Here rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God." Those veterans made the ultimate sacrifice defending the nation. These citizens also made a sacrifice, unwittingly, and are forevermore known but to God. Here are the president's words from his September 20, 2001, address to a joint session of Congress, which we are well-served to remember when hearing news like today's:
"Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom -- the great achievement of our time, and the great hope of every time -- now depends on us. Our nation -- this generation -- will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."
posted by Hal | 11:54 AM
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