Nathan's Letter

I am writing for many reasons. First, I want to apologize for not being able to make this meeting tonight or many others in the past.

Many things in life are changing so fast and I am just trying to keep up. I do feel as if I am failing all of you for not being available to help you all support our town and I'm sorry.

Second, I want to thank every one of you. While being deployed to Iraq and Kuwait I received much needed support from every one of you. What you did for me and all the other marines from my unit was amazing.
I really don't think that the word thanks is a good enough word but I don't know another word that means more. I thank all of you.

I grew up in Hoffman Estates and lived here all my life. I attended Lakeview elementary school, Frost Junior High and Conant High School.
I lived most of my life with very little fear but that is only because I felt so safe living in my town.

I wanted to become a cop to help make if safe for many years to come. I joined the marines in 2001 after realizing I don't have all the requirements to be a cop.

I never thought that we would go to war but I was ready anyway.

In 2003 I was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq to help support Operation Iraqi Freedom. After a 5-month tour I returned home with possibilities of being deployed again.

Now today all we do is hear of deaths and more terror that our troops are experiencing out there.

With the possibilities of our unit returning to Iraq I have more fear than before. I am a marine though so if my country calls for my help I will return with very much pride and no fear.

I grew up always wanting to be rich and famous and now I realize I am rich and famous. Famous because even though no one knows my name with the title of marine everyone knows me.

I'm rich because in our world, life is the most valuable thing that we have.

Being a marine I have the job of making life continue to be valuable.

I fight for life and freedom and nothing can be more rewarding than to know that.

Even if it takes my life to make one child live a life of no fear and freedom it is well worth it.

I will continue to fight for every one of you with no worries.

I love the world we live in. Even though we all don't agree on many things that happen, we need to be thankful for what we do have and thankful for who is giving it to us.

What I do ask is please continue to support our troops overseas even if you don't agree with what is happening. We are doing our job so please support the troops and all their families. It really hurts to hear of young men and women that live so close to us are dying but to know what they are dying for is amazing. It's kind of funny to hear that they are not old enough to have a drink with their friends or family but they are old enough to die for their country and they are willing to do so.

These kids are amazing individuals but some of them don't think of themselves as being so. They should know it though.
The families that have lost loved ones should know deep in their hearts, even though they hurt, that as a marine they don't want their families to grieve over their loss but to be proud of what they gave their lives for.
Their sons and daughters are heroes. They fought for us to continue to live a free life.

I won't continue on any longer but I want to say thank you all. You are all amazing individuals. Please continue to support the troops and their families.

Thanks again and keep up the good work.