A hero's parting message
This man made a choice that many others would not because he had a sense of what made his own life significant, and it was not about making money or being more famous. It was about service to, and belief in, a country, and fighting for it. And so, he put his ideals into action and, in so doing, reminded all of us what those overused terms in sports--"guts,""courage," and "tough"--really mean. Tillman's great-grandfather served at Pearl Harbor, and many in his family fought for America. Tillman put it in his own words: "I really haven't done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that," displaying his respect for those who had and what America's flag stands for.
He inspired us all to appreciate once again the many privileges conferred by America and how special it is to give something back. That's why he is being eulogized all across the nation. Reading about Tillman's life makes you know that he would be saying to all of us, "At ease--I am just another soldier marching to my own drummer. That march is to the beat of patriotism and duty." Pat Tillman knew that all soldiers put their lives on the line. He would not want to be singled out for any consideration or attention.
That's why his sacrifice gives such a special face to our soldiers serving abroad and why his death so shocked us all. He reminds us of the many men and women willing to put their lives into the fire, lives that could be defined by words like "loyalty" and "honor" and "patriotism" and "courage." In fact, his personal history is so unusual, his courage so rare, his commitment to duty so exceptional, his patriotism so transparent that, in his willingness to stand alone and act on the demands of his conscience, he has raised our expectations about what we can do, and he has given America yet another reason to see its mission through to the end.
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