Iraq, 2008 - God-in-Heaven, what do you do with the loss and the pain? I can't imagine it. Can you?
It happened to a friend of mine in 2005. His name is George... Gold Star Dad, George Lutz. Suddenly and forever, George's son, Cpl George "Tony" A. Lutz II was a Fallen Hero in The War on Terror.
But in the midst of his grief and pain George decided to take action and the result of some of that grief now flies over my house, 21 State Houses... and maybe soon over your house soon?
It is the Honor and Remember flag, the symbol we fly in honor of all who gave their lives in this very real war on Terror that thrashes about 16 years later.
From the U.S.S. Cole, to just last month when Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott was killed in Afghanistan, this much is true - relatively few today stand in the gap to serve in our Armed Forces... and in an instant a child, a spouse or a parent can be taken from you.
Eight years later, the Honor and Remember flag flies over 21 of our 50 State Capitols, in front yards, at funerals and in parades down Main Street.That's great... but there are 29 more States to go!
So, what does George do? He dares to go bigger still.
More action so that all of America might come to see and recognize this symbol of our collective gratitude to our Fallen Heroes in The War on Terror.
Called "America's Run For The Fallen", it will be a four months long, 4,000 mile run by thousands of runners (stopping every mile to call out the names of our Fallen Heroes) that will start in California and finish at Arlington National Cemetery... with the Honor and Remember flag flying in the lead.