Renewing Our Promise
Renewing Our Promise
On Sunday afternoon, I had the honor, along with Daniel Hays of the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance, of presiding at an event at Congressional Cemetery in SE Washington DC. In addition to the hundreds of Civil War veterans buried there and numerous Senators and Representatives, Congressional Cemetery is the final resting place for Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, USAF, a Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. As many of you know, Sergeant Matlovich was one of the first openly gay service members to fight to stay in the military.
Some of you may recall that Sergeant Matlovich appeared on the cover of the September 8, 1975 issue of Time magazine, with the caption: “I Am a Homosexual” - The Gay Drive for Acceptance.
Sergeant Matlovich’s tombstone does not bear his name as he meant it to be a memorial for all gay veterans. It reads:“When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”
I find it hard to believe that this can happen in our great country; yet 34 years later, the drive for acceptance continues. We gathered at Congressional Cemetery to renew our promise to Sergeant Matlovich and the thousands of other gay veterans and active duty service members still living under DADT - a promise that we will not give up our fight until this destructive, un-American and counterproductive law is repealed.
11-11-09 By CAPT Joan Darrah, USN (Ret.) |
2 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.Michael@LeonardMatlovich.com on November 12, 2009 at 05.45 pm
Thank you, Joan, for cohosting the memorial this year…and for your own service to our country.
I was unable to attend this year as I came to Berlin for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which Leonard and I visited together five years before brave Germans brought it down.
Anyone unable to attend the October 10th DADT Protest and Memorial in Congressional Cemetery might be interested in the pictures and videos at
http://www.leonardmatlovich.com/oct10thdcmemorial.html
I particularly recommend the video of DADT victim Tracy Thorne-Begland’s remarks that eloquently bridged Leonard’s courage and that of those who followed in his footsteps.
Thanks to all of them, and every servicemember who has served or is serving in silence.
Dino in Washington, DC on November 11, 2009 at 08.23 pm
Thank you Joan,
The spirit of Sgt Matlovich’s courage has touched the character many service members in the past 34 years, from USNA Midshipman Joseph Steffan in the 1980s to Lt. Dan Choi today. Thank you for your own courage as well.