REMEMBERING PAT TILLMAN AND ALL THOSE KILLED IN ACTION..

On early Sunday evening, I was watching a feature about a wounded
warrior on "Dateline NBC" that brought tears to my eyes. A 21-year
old man who had fought in Afghanistan was trying to adjust to life
without two legs and brain damage after an roadside bomb tore through
his military vehicle.

He made close to the ultimate sacrifice as many serviceman and
woman have over the last ten years and I thought to myself, "It's
really sad that so many Americans have forgotten about the real
heroes overseas, fighting a war that many of us were thinking would
never end." Teenagers would be coming home in boxes with American
flags draped over them, and the only people who felt the impact
of their sacrifice would be the immediate families who've had the
lives forever changed. It was sad, real sad.

A a few hours later, sorrow turned to joy when news broke that
we had gotten Bin Laden. The war may not be over, but we have reason
to celebrate with Osama Bin Laden's death. Celebrations broke out
all over the country to mark the occasion. Just as everyone knows
exactly where they were on 9/11, all of us will remember just where we
were on 5/1, when news broke out that the number one terrorist
in the world was served justice.

As we celebrate one of the greatest moments in our country's
history, let's take time to remember the men and woman of our
armed forces who made tremendous sacrifices to protect our
freedom and eliminate the most despicable human being to
walk this earth since Hitler. They left their families and went
to a foreign country to fight a war that many of us didn't really
believe in. They had to deal with roadside bombs, suicide missions,
and ominous threats EVERY SECOND of their lives. Imagine
not only the fear, but the stress they had to endure. Thousands of
them cannot celebrate the scintillating moment of Bin Laden's
death, as they were killed defending our country and freedom.

Let us not forget Pat Tillman, who gave up an NFL career and
the riches that come with it. He said good-bye to the Arizona
Cardinals, his family, and his wife, whom he had just married,
because he wanted to fight for his country. Tillman wanted to get
Bin Laden. He wanted to get justice for the more than 3,000
people who perished in the Twin Towers. Tillman had a chance
to get out of his military commitment after making one tour
in Afghanistan, but he declined it, waving off the "special treatment"
for the NFL star.

Tillman wouldn't make it back to the United States or the NFL.
He was killed by friendly fire during a mission in Afghanistan.
It sucked the wind out of many in the sports world who had
known Tillman and covered him. Tillman's family will never recover,
no matter how much time passes. But they can take solace, like
all of the families who lost loved ones fighting the war, knowing
that the sacrifice their sons and daughters made, were not in vain.

This is a day that brings tremendous joy to everyone in the United
States. It's a moment that will unify the country once again, and give
us hope that things will get better. There will be high-fives, celebratory
messages flooding Facebook, Twitter, and IPhones, IPads, and
everything in between. But as we celebrate, let's all too, remember
those who made the ultimate sacrifice, who helped make this all
possible.