‘Be all you can be'

To the editor: This is a tribute to all men and women serving and veterans who know “Freedom is not Free” and in response to a question by a Warwick high school student that asked: “How can you be all that you can be if you’re dead?” Many have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country since the Revolutionary War. Unless you have walked in the boots of these fine American men and women, you will not realize the “freedoms” given for you by many young men and women. Our troops have no hesitation responding “Yes” to “have you been all that you can be.” As a veteran I’m proud of our troops and Coast Guard helping with disasters like Katrina and other disasters throughout the world and bringing freedom to Iraq, Kuwait, etc., food to Africa. The young firemen and policemen who ran into the towers on 9/11 to save people they didn’t even know - were they all that they could be? The people on the plane that overpowered the terrorists and died in a Pennsylvania field - were they all they could be? I believe the answer is Yes. I don’t believe you must be a president, CEO, multi-millionaire, etc., to be all you can be. When this student arrives at heaven’s gate there will be a “military honor guard” with a sign that reads: “Have you been all you can be?” What will his answer be? Evarist LeMay U.S.M.C. Korean veteran Warwick