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April 24, 2004It’s no exaggeration to say that men are dying everyday in the war against terror, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some are American men and women. Some get overshadowed and we never really hear about them. We don’t hear their story.Another man died on the 22nd of April, 2004. Overshadowed by Pat Stillman’s death but no less a hero than Stillman. He fought in a war too. But this one made it home. His name is Art Devlin of Lake Placid, NY. Devlin, a five-time Olympic ski jumper and a celebrity in his own right, joined the Service in 1943 but fought no less heroic. A bombardier pilot for the Army-Air Force, he earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses, five Air Medals and two Presidential Unit Citations to go along with his three Purple Hearts and 50 missions. Mentioning Devlin is no attempt to take away from Stillman’s sacrifice. A more-than noble effort and every bit worth telling, Stillman walked away from much comfort and joy to join forces in fighting the evil ones. What is particularly stunning when hearing of the death of young Stillman, who was only 27, is that he wasn’t a regular guy. That is, not like you or I. He was a football player, an NFL football player and a person with a “name” in society for which we place on pedestals. And unlike Devlin, who was 81 and who lived in an era of little sports money compared to today, Stillman had the spoils of modern day society’s riches and notoriety. Then he became a soldier. He refused one dotted line for a much cheaper one. It’s now widely known that he turned down a multi-million dollar contract with the Arizona Cardinals to join the Army Rangers-a tough bunch. And he paid the ultimate sacrifice in fighting for a cause he truly believed in. So did Devlin but he made it home and lived a long, good life. Sacrifices from men like Devlin allowed men like Stillman to live the next generation’s good life, as did heroes from World War I allowed Devlin to flourish and sacrifice. How many circles will be completed by Stillman’s sacrifice? Devlin completed his own personal circle. He died on the very ground where he was born, raised and played, learned to ski jump, ran a business, and finally succumbed to one of life’s complications in little Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Olympics. The latter, he helped usher in, in upstate New York. Devlin wasn't an example. He lived. Stillman’s circle was cut short. But maybe his death was a sign to all us spoiled Americans that we’ve been taking the duties of the soldiers and their sacrifices for granted, not to mention our luxuries. How ironic is it that these two men should die on the same day, two heroes from different eras, both fighting for the same cause so many years apart? Pat Stillman, above all, put a face to all the American servicemen and women who have suffered or died since operations sprung up after 9-11. Devlin made it through the “Greatest Generation” in order to pave a way for the Stillman’s of America. Now we have a face for all to see and the circle continues. |
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