Franklin Roosevelt's Sullivan Letter

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. 

Very Sincerely Yours,

Franklin Roosevelt 

(Source of Letter: American Presidents History). 

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.

Barack Obama Welcomes New Dog Bo to White House

Bo Obama, Portuguese Water Dog

Pol Light Moment #106 happened on April 14, 2009, when Barack Obama welcomed his new dog Bo to the White House for the first time. Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States. He served as President of the United States from 2009-2017.

Here is a video of Barack Obama and his family showing Bo to his new home in the White House.


For other posts on Barack Obama search with the "Barack Obama" 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.

The photo of Barack Obama is in the Public Domain.

Ann Romney Launches Center for Neurological Diseases

Mitt and Ann Romney

Pol Light Moment #105 was on October 14, 2014, when Ann Romney announced the formation of the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases. Ann Romney was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1998 and is the wife of Mitt Romney who has served as the Governor of Massachusetts and ran for President in 2012.

The Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases will be at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston Massachusetts and will help treat patients who have a variety of neurological conditions multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's disease, and brain tumors. Treatment and global collaboration in research are also goals of the Ann Romney Center. Mitt and Ann Romney have also given an undisclosed monetary gift to start the fundraising for the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases.

The following is a video describing the vision for the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases.

Mitt Romney shared this on his Twitter on the day his wife launched her groundbreaking Ann Romney Center for Neurological Studies.

Dear Ann: You’ve come a long way… https://t.co/V2ffmM8i7s #AnnRomneyCenter
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 14, 2014

Here are some links to articles on the start of the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases.

• Ann Romney Campaigning Hard for Medical Research, Boston Globe
• Ann Romney Launches New Center to study Neurological Diseases, LA Times
• Ann Romney Launches Neurological Center, Fox News

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.

Jane Byrne Orders Chicago Fire Department to Stand Down

Former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne has died at age 81. http://t.co/g41WllxX5B pic.twitter.com/FxfIvtwKp0
— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) November 14, 2014

Pol Light Moment #104 happened on November 11, 1981, when Jane Byrne (1934-2014) ordered the Chicago Fire Department to cease the unsafe practice of using force to stop climber Dan Goodwin (AKA SpiderDan) from climbing the John Hancock Center. Jane Byrne was the first and only female Mayor of the City of Chicago, serving from 1979-1983.

Here is the Wikipedia account of Jane Byrne ordering the Chicago Fire Department to stand down.

On Veterans Day, November 11, 1981, Dan Goodwin, who had successfully climbed the Sears Tower on Memorial Day, battled for his life on the side of the John Hancock Center. William Blair, Chicago's then-fire commissioner, had ordered the Chicago Fire Department to stop Goodwin by directing a full power fire hose at him and by using fire axes to break window glass in Goodwin's path. Mayor Byrne rushed to the scene and ordered the fire department to stand down. Then, through a smashed out 38th floor window, she told Goodwin, who was hanging from the building's side a floor below, that though she did not agree with his climbing of the John Hancock Center, she certainly opposed the fire department knocking him to the ground below. Byrne then allowed Goodwin to continue to the top as thousands of people on the street below gave him an ovation and screamed, "Go! Go! Go!" (Source - Wikipedia, Jane Byrne, 11/15/2014)

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.

Jennifer Granholm Rides Bicycle to Work

Jennifer Granholm

Pol Light Moment #103 happened during the Summer of 2008, when Jennifer Granholm rode her bicycle to work several days a week.  One specific day she rode her bicycle to work was Wednesday, July 3, 2008. Jennifer Granholm was the Governor of the State of Michigan from 2003-2011.

Jennifer Granholm rode her bicycle to her work at Michigan's capital in Lansing, Michigan several times a week during the Summer of 2008 as part of an effort to demonstrate to citizens how they could save money and help the environment.  The residence of the Governor, where Jennifer Granholm lived at the time, is about 3 miles from the Capital. In addition to riding a bicycle, Jennifer Granholm also rode the public bus system known in Lansing, Michigan as CATA to demonstrate how to save money and help the environment.

Here are some online articles about Jennifer Granholm riding her bicycle to work.

• Governor Commutes by Bike; Pushes Bike Lanes, July 6, 2008
• Michigan Governor Bikes to Work-could you do the same?, July 3, 2008

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 Jennifer Granholm is believed to be in the Public Domain according to the Quote Collection.

Ted Cruz Reads to His Children from Senate Floor

Ted Cruz

Pol Light Moment #102 happened on September 24, 2013, when Ted Cruz read bedtime stories to his children from the U.S. Senate floor. Ted Cruz has been a United States Senator from Texas since 2013.

Ted Cruz was in the midst of a marathon all night speech in the United States Senate on September 24, 2013 about defunding the health care law, when he took a diversion from his political speech at about 8:00pm EST in order to read bedtime stories to his two daughters, Caroline and Catherine Cruz (The Guardian, Ted Cruz Pulls All-Nighter as Marathon Anti-Obamacare Speech Churns On, September 25, 2013).

Here is a video of Ted Cruz reading to his children from the Senate floor. He read first a passage from Proverbs in the Holy Bible and then from the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

Ted Cruz has been the subject of other posts on this blog. To find other Ted Cruz posts search with the label "Ted Cruz" on the blog.

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.

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Photo: The photo of Ted Cruz is in the Public Domain.

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower Celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower in 1916 at their Wedding

Pol Light Moment #101 is when Dwight Eisenhower and Mamie Eisenhower had their 50th Wedding Anniversary on July 1, 1966. The couple married on July 1, 1916, in Denver, Colorado. Dwight Eisenhower served as the 34th President of the United States, from 1953-1961. Prior to that he had served as a 5 star General in the Army during World War II.

The following is some original video footage from 1966 that was created as a tribute to Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower on their 50th Anniversary.

Dwight and Mamie had planned to be married in November of 1916, but they moved their wedding up to July 1 because of the pending entry of the United States into World War I. In 1966, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower became the first former President and wife to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary since John Quincy Adams and his wife Louisa reached this milestone in the middle of the 19th Century.

Quote Light: Dwight Eisenhower has a page on the Quote Light blog.

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.

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Photos:  The wedding photo of Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower from 1916 is from History.com.