Pol Light Moment #122 occurred on November 6, 2014, when Joni Ernst reported for National Guard service two days after she was elected as the first woman to the Senate in Iowa. Joni Ernst has served as a United States Senator from Iowa since 2015. From 2011-2014, Joni Ernst served in the Iowa State Senate representing the 12th District.
After winning election to the United States Senate, Ernst reported to her base on November 6, 2014, for two days of training with the 185th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (National Review, Benny Johson, Iowa's New Senator -Elect Has Other Duties Before She Heads to Washington, November 7, 2014).
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Pol Light Moment #107 is when Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) wrote a letter to Mrs. Sullivan on January 13, 1943. Mrs. Sullivan was the mother who lost all five of her sons in World War II because the cruiser they were all on was destroyed in war. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and served from 1933 until his death in 1945. Franklin D. Roosevelt also served as the Governor of New York from 1929-1932.
The five sons of Mrs. Sullivan requested to be stationed on the same Navy ship. They were killed on Nov. 15, 1942 during World War II when their ship the Juneau was attacked off Guadalcanal and sunk during the Battle of Solomon Islands (American Presidents History).
The following was the contents of the letter dated January 13, 1943, that Franklin Roosevelt wrote to Mrs. Sullivan.
Dear Mrs. Sullivan:
The knowledge that your five gallant sons are missing in action, against the enemy, inspired me to write you this personal message, I realize full well there is little I can say to assuage your grief.
As the Commander in Chief of the Army and the Navy, I want you to know that the entire nation shares your sorrow. I offer you the condolence and gratitude of our country. We, who remain to carry on the fight, must maintain the spirit in the knowledge that such sacrifice is not in vain. The Navy Department has informed me of the expressed desire of your son; George Thomas, Francis Henry, Joseph Eugene, Madison Abel, and Albert Leo, to serve on the same ship. I am sure, that we all take pride in the knowledge that they fought side by side.As one of your sons wrote, 'We will make a team together that can't be beat.' It is this spirit which in the end must triumph.
Last March, you Mrs. Sullivan, were designated to sponsor a ship of the Navy in recognition of your patriotism and that of your sons. I am to understand that you are, now even more determined to carry on as sponsor. This evidence of unselfishness and courage serves as a real inspiration for me, as I am sure it will for all Americans. Such acts of fate and fortitude in the face of tragedy convince me of the indomitable spirit and will of our people.
I send you my deepest sympathy in your hour of trial and pray that in Almighty God you will find a comfort and help that only he can bring.
Franklin D. Roosevelt has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Franklin Roosevelt posts search with Franklin Roosevelt label at Pol Light.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo in this post is in the Public Domain. It was obtained from Wikipedia.
Pol Light Moment #75 took place on October 1, 2014, when Hillary Clinton spoke in New York at an event for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) and comforted military families who had lost loved ones. Hillary Clinton was speaking at the event because she received the Lifetime Service Award from the group. Hillary Clinton served as the First Lady from 1993-2001, when her husband Bill Clinton was President. She has also served as a U.S. Senator from New York and Secretary of State.
Hillary Clinton had the opportunity to listen to the stories of the surviving family members of United States military and during her speech she said,
At a time when sometimes we seem divided and people seem to be arguing all the time we really have to take stock of how blessed we are and grateful for the men and women who serve us and be thankful that we have through all of our ups and downs and our challenges continues to stand for the values that unite us: freedom and democracy and opportunity and by supporting you all who will serve in the future--Hillary Clinton (ABC News, October 1, 2014).
More Information: You can read more information about Hillary Clinton comforting military families who have lost loved ones at these links.
Hillary Clinton has been featured in other Pol Light moments and can be found by searching this blog with the Hillary Clinton Label.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments. The photo of Hillary Clinton is in the Public Domain.
Pol Light Moment #52 took place on March 22, 2013, when Senator Mark Warner helped the Virginia family of PFC Alonzo Hayes receive the medals he earned nearly 70 years after he died in combat in World War II. Mark Warner has served as the United States Senator from Virginia since 2009.
PFC Alonzo Hayes was killed near Florence, Italy on August 22, 1944 (Source). On March 22, 2013, the family of PFC Alonzo Hayes received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service. The medals should have been with Hayes when he was buried 70 years ago.
Here is a news story of how the family of the Alonzo Haynes received the medals after 70 years.
Lou Kadiri, who serves as the Constituent Services Director for Senator Mark Warner's office, said to the family of PFC Alonzo Hayes, "It truly, truly is an honor for the senator to help you get these medals your brother earned, that he so bravely earned (Source)."
Tollie Haynes, the younger brother of the late Alonzo Hayes said, "I am so honored to get these medals. I'll never forget him. This touches my heart. It means a great deal, just like part of him came back (Source)."
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Pol Moment #18 culminated in March, 2012, when Charles Schumer helped reunite a retired marine with the dog she served with in Iraq. Charles Schumer has served in the United States Senate from 1998 to present, representing the state of New York.
Corporal Megan Leavy retired in 2007 and began a process to adopt the dog known as Sgt. Rex, that she had worked with on two tours of duty in Iraq. The military denied Corporal Leavy's request and instead decided to keep Sgt. Rex in military service. Corporal Leavy continued to fight through redtape for five years to adopt Sgt. Rex, becoming very vocal over the years and enlisting the help of Senator Charles Schumer. Sgt. Rex's life depended on it, because after retirement the military considers old dogs as "excess", and they are sometimes euthanized.
Charles Schumer pressed the Air Force to help expedite an adoption of Sgt. Rex by Corporal Megan Leavy. An online petition was created by Charles Schumer's office that gained over 20,000 signatures. In 2012 Corporal Megan Leavy was finally reunited with Sgt. Rex, who is now 11 years of age. Here is a video of this story.
Charles Schumer said this in a press release on March 20, 2012 about the story.
We salute the Air Force and the Marines for doing the right thing and allowing Rex to be with Corporal Leavey. One canine, one human, both heroes. They should be united shortly and we’re glad it’s happening. I can think of no better ending to a story that inspired a nation than to see Sgt. Rex come home to his best friend. While millions of dog lovers across the country have a deep bond with their ‘best friend’, the bond forged between Corporal Leavey and Sgt. Rex is one that few of us will ever know. It’s only appropriate and right that the two of them enjoy their retirement from the service together. I again want to thank the Air Force and Marines for moving so quickly and I want to thank the thousands of New Yorkers and Americans who showed their support online (Source).
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo of Charles Schumer is in the Public Domain.
Pol Light Moment #13 is Dr. Jill Biden writing a children's book on her son's deployment in the military. Dr. Jill Biden is the wife of the Vice-President of the United States, Joe Biden. Joe Biden was featured on the Pol Light Moment #11 post of this blog.
In June, 2012 Dr. Jill Biden released a children's book called Don't Forget God Bless Our Troops. The title came from a statement made by her granddaughter Natalie Biden. Susan Page writes that Dr. Jill Biden "has produced a deliberately nonpolitical book, a low-key account of Natalie's first year while her father, a major in the Army National Guard and Delaware's attorney general, was in Iraq (Source)." One of the goals of the book is to help other families and children of military personnel understand that they are not alone in facing the difficulty of having a loved one in the armed service.
Here is an interview on the book that Jill Biden provided to USA Today.
For more information on this book visit this news article.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo in this post of Dr. Jill Biden is in the Public Domain.
Pol Light Moment #11 is when Joe Biden shared about losing his wife and daughter in a car accident to encourage families of fallen soldiers for a Memorial Day 2012 observance. Joe Biden has been the Vice President of the United States from 2009 to the present. Prior to that he served as a United States Senator for Delaware from 1973-2009.
Joe Biden lost his first wife and their 18 month daughter in a tragic car accident on December 18, 1972, while he was preparing to start his first term as a United States Senator (Source). His two sons were seriously injured in the accident as well but survived.
On Friday, May 25, 2012, Vice-President Joe Biden shared a new aspect about his loss at an event for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance for Survivors) in Virginia. In the speech for the first time Joe Biden revealed about how he understood feelings of suicide after the loss. His remarks in the speech included this:
I probably shouldn't say this with the press here, but it's more important, you're more important. For the first time in my life, I understood how someone could consciously decide to commit suicide. Not because they were deranged, not because they were nuts, because they had been to the top of the mountain, and they just knew in their heart they would never get there again (ABC News, Devin Dwyer, Joe Biden Reflects on Immense Grief after Loss of Wife, Daughter, May 25, 2012).
Joe Biden went on in the speech to encourage those who had experienced loss of someone in the armed services, saying, "There will come a day, I promise you, and your parents as well, when the thought of your son or daughter or your husband or wife brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye (Source)."
The following is a news feature on this moment by the Rachel Maddow show.
Joe Biden has been featured on other posts at Pol Light. To view them search the blog with the label "Joe Biden". Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo of Joe Biden is in the Public Domain and is the official United States federal government photo of Joe Biden.
Pol Light Moment #7 is when Abraham Lincoln visited the Southern soldiers in the hospital during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln was a wartime President and in this Pol Light Moment we read the story of when he was performing hospital visitation and took the time to not only see Union soldiers but also see sick and wounded prisoners from the Southern army who were being cared for in a Union hospital.
The account of this story is preserved in the writings of Dr. Jerome Walker of Brooklyn who accompanied President Lincoln when he visited the Ninth City Ward Hospital in City Point, Virginia in 1865. President Lincoln visited this hospital just a week before he was assassinated. This is the first person account of Dr. Jerome Walker.
Finally, after visiting the wards occupied by our invalid and convalescing soldiers, we came to three wards occupied by sick and wounded Southern prisoners. With a feeling of patriotic duty, I said, 'Mr. President, you won't want to go in there; they are only rebels.' I will never forget how he stopped and laid his large hand upon my soldier and quietly answered, 'You mean Confederates.' And I have meant Confederates ever since.
There was nothing left for me to do after the President's remark but to go with him through these three wards; and I could not see but that he was just as kind, his handshakings just as hearty, his interest just as real for welfare of the men, as when he was among our own soldiers.
As we returned to headquarters, the President urged upon me the importance of caring for them as faithfully as I should for our own sick and wounded. (Source)
Abraham Lincoln has been featured on other Pol Light posts. To view all Abraham Lincoln posts search with Abraham Lincoln label at Pol Light.
Pol Light does not endorse political candidates. We present a brighter side to politics when they are found on either side of the aisle. We don't have to agree with all of a person's politics to recognize these bright moments.
Photo: The photo in this post of Abraham Lincoln is in the Public Domain.
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