Have Faith. Keep Talking.

Recently I had the opportunity to interview a World War II Pearl Harbor survivor. Needless to say, it was an honor to share his story on the cable show I was hosting, The Military Connection. During the interview, I asked him what he would say to encourage our returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. I was caught off guard by his simple, yet poignant response, "Have Faith. Keep Talking."
His message inspired me to keep the faith and to keep talking. Over the last three years, I have been undergone experiences that silenced me and shook my faith.
Following the debacle at Arlington National Cemetery. Melissa and I filed a complaint against with the Inspector Generals Office of the Department of Defense. They passed it to the Inspector Generals Office of the Army. Can you imagine that, the Army investigating the Army since Arlington National Cemetery is under the perview of the Army. Picture it like this. Can you imagine Enron investigating Enron following their scandalous corporate corruption? Exactly. It does not make sense. Again the good thing is we allowed this information to become part of public information under the Freedom of Information Act. Yes, now anyone can review our family's allegations of corruption with the Army and Arlington National Cemetery.
Just like that World War II veteran said, Have Faith. Keep Talking  I once was not in a position to talk but I am now stronger and I am breaking this silence. Over the last two years, I have been recording my thoughts and these will now be released in a book, Gold Star Father. Honoring a Hero. Remembering a Son. Writing this book has been a hard and theraputic. It has also made me angry and brought me hope. I hope you will be inspired as I share my solemn journey over the last six years.
I am no longer going to be silent and will begin to post again in my blog.   I ask for your continued support and prayers as I move ever slowly forward.

Semper Fi,
Scott Warner
Gold Star Father

History of TAPS

As I am preparing for Memorial Day, I ran across this history of the bugle call, TAPS. I thought you might like to learn about the history of this solemn call.

Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than Taps. Up to the Civil War, the traditional call at day's end was a tune, borrowed from the French, called Lights Out. In July of 1862, in the aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought "Lights Out" was too formal and he wished to honor his men.

Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, "...showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac."

This more emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted throughout the military. In 1874 It was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.
The origin of the word "Taps" is thought to have come from the Dutch word for "Tattoo"- "Taptoe." More than likely, "Taps" comes from the the three drum taps that were played as a signal for "Extinguish Lights" when a bugle was not used. As with many other customs, the twenty-four notes that comprise this solemn tradition began long ago and continue to this day.
While there are no official lyrics for Taps, the following unofficial verse (author unknown) is often used:

Fading light dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night. Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky; All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Then good night, peaceful night, Till the light of the dawn shineth bright; God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night.

We Remember Them

I ran across this poem as I am preparing for out upcoming Memorial Day. I choose to remember our loved who gave so much for our freedom. The light of their lives still shine on.

A Litany of Remembrance Roland B. Gittelsohn In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, We remember them. In the opening buds and in the rebirth of spring, We remember them. In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, We remember them. In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, We remember them. In the beginning of the year and when it ends, We remember them. When we are weary and in need of strength, We remember them. When we are lost and are sick of heart, We remember them. When we have Joys we yearn to share, We remember them. So long as we live, they too shall live, For they are now a part of us, As we remember them.

A Decade of Anguish Ends with Death of Osama Bin Laden

The events of September 11, 2001 forever changed my family.  I remember my son, Heath, coming from home school and stating he was going to fight for his country. Upon his graduation in 2005, he left to become a Marine and was KIA on 11/22/06 by an IED in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. Since then, I have spent the last ten years of my life in some form of anguish.  I never thought I would hear Osama Bin Laden was captured and dead.

Late Sunday night my youngest son came into our family room and stated matter of factly that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. My first reaction was one of disbelief and I told him not to joke about something as important as that. He said it was on the news. Before I even turned the news on I received a tweet from Heath's girlfriend thanking us for Heath's sacrifice and for being part of history to bring this day to pass. I immediately went to my social media sites to see what had happened.

I have to admit I found myself overwhelmed in the moment. I could not process the emotions I felt -profound pride, deep sadness, disbelief and tears. It was as if I was hit by a tsunami of emotions of everything I had experienced since the events of 9/11. I guess deep within I struggled with the fact was my son's death in vain and over the last five years my personal life imploded as grief and depression exploded.

Osama Bin Laden's death has confirmed once and for all, my son's death was not in vain.  Our country stood strong, firm in our commitment to pursue the fight for freedom and to bring justice to those who terrorize our world. It took ten long years of anguish for those of us who actually understood by our personal pain the high cost of freedom – the blood, sweat and tears of our loved ones.  I am so proud of our special forces, troops, our country and most importantly my son Heath. To those of you who went about as business as usual taking for granted our suffering and now celebrate in this victory, all I can say to you is...God Bless America!

Westboro church protests amount to hate speech, even hate crimes

Read my guest editorial in the Canton Repository. Please pass along to other papers in your community. God Bless, Scott Warner

 Westboro church protests amount to hate speech, even hate crimes

Help Needed for Ohio Gold Star Mother

Dear Friends,


I found out through my military connections that an Ohio Gold Star mother is in desperate need of a vehicle. The S. N. Warner Family Association would like to raise $5,000 to provide this mother a car so she can have transportation to get employment. She was left in a dire situation after the loss of her son. The mother was forced to leave her son’s (KIA last month) home after he died. She was staying there with two of the soldier’s other siblings, taking care of the house. When he passed, she had to leave as she was left with no resources. Catholic Charities has offered her temporary housing, but she desperately needs a car.

Click link below to Donate!

 http://is.gd/F6HSVS
God Bless,

Scott Warner

What If?

I remember at my son’s funeral sharing the following statement, “May his shed blood on this foreign soil produce a harvest of freedom.” As I was preparing his eulogy I remember thinking is it even possible that freedom could become a reality in Iraq? Could I even imagine what it would look like? Here I am nearly five years later and I am seeing those seeds watered with the blood of our servicemen and women sprouting forth across the Middle East.

What if....Egypt?

Last week I was watching the news and saw Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in Egypt stopping her motorcade to get out of her vehicle to walk the square where the Egyptian uprising has led to a new opportunity for freedom. She stated she wanted to see and take in where a revolution for freedom took place. "To the people of Egypt, let me say: this moment of history belongs to you," Clinton said following talks with Egypt's new foreign minister, Nabil al-Araby. "This is your achievement and you broke barriers and overcame obstacles to pursue the dream of democracy." My heart raced as the flashback to Heath’s funeral and in my mind thought what if?

What if...President Obama?

 

From Iraq to Egypt to Iran, Tunisia, Bahrain, Yemen, Algeria and now Libya, people have risen up against the totalitarian rulers. Yesterday, Operation Odyssey Dawn launched an attack to create a no fly zone in Libya. I question what if this action had not taken place a week ago when the momentum was in favor the people who took their heroic stand against Muammar Qaddafi. It was frustrating to watch the Libyan people fearlessly fight only to be pushed back by pro Qaddafi forces and the world again talked of creating a no fly zone. I was particularly annoyed that our President who was more concerned about discussing his March Madness brackets than the devastation in Japan including the nuclear energy plant meltdowns and the Libyan uprising.

What if...Libya?

On the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War, I am concerned like many of you about entering into another conflict while we have ongoing warzones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Time will only show us if these prolonged actions by our military will help the people of Libya. But again I wonder what if? Tunisia and Egypt can inspire us that new democracies can emerge. What else can we expect from the people of these oil-rich countries that have been denied basic human rights for so long than to rise up? They seek a democratic rule of law and social justice that they have been denied while their dictators exploited the riches of oil for their personal lavish life styles at the expense of their country’s people.

What if...we were inspired?

If the time is now we need to stand strong with these people. I will never forget watching the brave people in China in the Tiananmen Square Riot that occurred on June 4th, 1989. The world watched as they were massacred by their own government. Let us learn from our past mistakes and stand beside the Libyan people. I am inspired as I think of what if?