Home Warner delivers thank-yous to Navy Seals
Local

Warner delivers thank-yous to Navy Seals

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner today delivered more than 1,200 messages of support and appreciation to U.S. Navy special operations personnel representing the successful military operation that eliminated Al Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. The ‘thank you’ notes were submitted through a message board set-up on Sen. Warner’s website, and through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the week following the successful U.S. military mission.

“These messages reflect a spontaneous outpouring of support, respect and appreciation for all of our men and women in uniform,” Warner said. “The messages come from military families, veterans, entire schools and hundreds of Virginians who simply wanted an opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to these remarkable warriors,” Warner said.

Over the course of the week, news of Sen. Warner’s ‘thank you’ initiative spread beyond Virginia and hundreds of supportive messages poured-in from people across the country and around the world, including messages from citizens of Canada, India, Ireland, Israel and the United Kingdom.

• “As a lifelong resident of Hampton Roads, it is all too easy to take the military for granted. We are your neighbors, classmates, and friends. We are blessed to have you.”

• “‪A huge thank you and to let you know how proud we are from Mr. Underwood’s 5th grade class at Rocky Gap, Va. Elementary School!”

• “Our 2nd grader came home from school and said, ‘Our guys killed a very bad man who hurt those people in the twin towers. We got him, Mommy.’ Yes, we did. ‪Thank you.”• “I was five when Bin Laden and Al Qaeda attacked the twin towers, and I have never truly felt safe since. Thank you for giving that back to me. You all have inspired me to join the United States military when I am older.”

• “‪Most of the time no one knows what you do, where you do it or even if you actually exist. We still don’t know who you are, but we do know what you did. Thank you.”

• “This Marine mom wants to thank you so much for your service! We rest easier knowing you are out there protecting us.”

• ‪”‪I have no words to describe the men who were on this mission. I never realized ordinary men could be so extraordinary.”

• “As the daughter of a career Navy Senior Chief, I wish he had lived long enough to hear about what you all did. He would have smiled and said, ‘Damn right — they’re Navy!’”

• “From a Navy officer who lost a friend on the USS Cole and a colleague at the Pentagon on 9/11: Many of us who have fought and served for these many years can now feel vindicated and proud.”

• “We are all so proud of you and so thankful for your service to Virginia, the nation, and the world. You do us proud.”

• “My family in NY who lost a loved one on Sept 11 is forever indebted to all of you.”

• “You have provided an opportunity for every American to move beyond the grief and horror of 9/11 and face our future with confidence and pride. That is huge.”

• “How do you thank someone who saves the world? I will pay it forward. Thank you for being a hero to my kids.”

“Members of our special forces community recognize that their successes usually cannot be celebrated with public parades and press conferences,” Warner said. “That doesn’t mean we cannot look for creative ways to express our respect and appreciation while still protecting their identities and their safety. I am pleased to share these messages of thanks with the entire military community here in Hampton Roads.”

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.