January 10, 2010

Jan 10.2010

Today marks the 4th month since the death of 1st Lt Tyler Parten. I am his mother and I’m trying to piece together the details of my remaining children’s lives as well as carry forward
my own life. I now have read the first twenty entries of Tyler’s journal from “over there”.

Do all US soldiers go through this? Fear, pain, shock, and pure exhaustion, but still carry forward the assigned missions. If they do, I am ashamed and never realized nor knew the selfless sacrifice they have led.

I remember an event that took place 2 years after Tyler went to West Point. My children’s father and I were having dinner at a small restaurant (we were not there for the food, just something to do in a small town of 5000). Sitting at a table next to us was an older lady that I knew and her friends. In a small town you know everyone and I knew of her family’s history. The family was very wealthy and some would call it “old money”. Their discussion was about a certain granddaughters’ choice of a man. We couldn’t help but overhear their conversation, as they were drinking and were talking loud. The one thing I do remember was when the older woman “of means” stated, “Well, you know he has nothing going for him since he joined the Army!” I was stunned. It was all I could do not to speak out but I didn’t. That was in 2005. Tyler was finishing his second year at West Point and had chosen to take his oath and not walk away.

Today, I have lost a son who had everything going for him and still chose the Army. Today, I have a second son who has everything going for him and still after all of this have taken his oath and will soon be a 1st Lt in the Army. Today, I pity the ignorance of that wealthy woman. Today, I would speak up and tell her that her voice was loud and I couldn’t help but overhear her statement of ignorance. Today, I would speak for all the men and women that have died for her right to sit at that table and have her discussion. Today, I have no tolerance. Lona

“Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for a friend!”