Brothers Forever: A Veterans Day Reflection
At Arlington National Cemetery, two headstones stand side by side. One bears the name of a Marine, First Lieutenant Travis Manion. The other bears the name of a Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Brendan Looney. Before they shared a resting place, they shared a room at the United States Naval Academy. Their friendship is the story of Brothers Forever by Tom Sileo and Travis’s father, retired Marine Colonel Tom Manion.
Before his second deployment to Iraq, Travis was asked why he had to go back. “If not me, then who?” On April 29, 2007, his patrol was ambushed in Fallujah. Travis led a counterattack, drawing fire away from his wounded comrades. A sniper killed him. His wounded teammates survived.
Brendan dedicated his SEAL training to the friend he had lost. Three years later, he and eight others died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The families arranged for Travis to be moved from his grave in Pennsylvania so the friends could rest together at Arlington.
On the night before the Cross, Jesus told his disciples, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). I think of those words when I picture Travis drawing fire away from his wounded men.
I believe we live in the greatest country in the world, and that love of country carries a responsibility. We must do our part to protect the freedom to worship, to proclaim the Gospel openly and to live our faith in public life. We exercise that freedom when we gather for Mass, speak about our faith at work and carry Christ’s mercy to people who may never walk through our church doors. We help safeguard it when we speak up for our neighbors’ freedom of conscience, too.
To all who have worn our nation’s uniform, thank you. This Veterans Day, call a veteran or a family whose loved one never came home. Give them time to tell their story.
May Christ grant eternal rest to Travis, Brendan, and all our departed veterans, and peace to those still carrying the wounds of war.
