Why I Prefer Open Comments

I received several wonderful, heartfelt, and sincere wishes of sympathy, pride, and respect recently in the comment section of my post describing SGT Daniel L. Galvan’s memorial service earlier this week. One of those comments in particular reaffirms my commitment to fighting spammers to the death to keep the comments open.

Thank you Sgt Hook for telling us about my son’s memorial in the plywood chapel. His Mom and I would also like to thank everybody kind and gracious enough to post their words and thoughts. I don’t know how we will be able to respond to all individually. His Mom and I are very proud of our soldier and your words and thoughts and our pride in our son will hopefully give us the strength to carry on, which we must for his siblings, his wife and his kids. Again thanks to all who have posted in this and every other blog and site.

Blas E. Galvan
MSG USA Retired

I didn’t know that SGT Galvan’s dad is a retired Army Master Sergeant, a peer, nor did I know that he reads Sgt Hook. I was deeply moved by his comment and sent him an email asking if he would like that I post his message on the front page to help he and his wife to respond with their gratitude to all of the well wishers, most of whom they’ve never met, or ever will.

Hook,

I do not mind at all your posting my email on your blog. Your words and thoughts are greatly appreciated as is your blog appreciated as a way to pay tribute to our soldiers. If you would pass on my thanks to Daniel’s First Sergeant for the conduct of his memorial. I have only gotten second hand reports through my daughter-in-law but what I have heard it was a moving experience for my son’s fellow soldiers in attendance.

If I may be so bold, I charge Daniel’s Division with completing the duty we have to make sure that the lowlifes that hit us on our homeland on 911 are brought to justice. You can pass the word to Daniel’s fellow soldiers that his Dad is proud of him and of all who wear the uniform, I will pray daily for all and that we bring this action to a fitting and just conclusion in a timely manner; I can think of no better tribute to Daniel that that.

In closing let me say that Daniel loved the Army, flying, his family, his parents and above all he loved the USA. I used to say that my heart pumped OD blood (half in jest) but I believe that Daniel’s heart did.

Blas E. Galvan

Thanks Top. I cannot fathom the anguish that you, your wife, and your son’s wife and children and siblings are feeling, but I do share your pride in Daniel’s selfless service to this great nation of ours. This We’ll Defend. Sgt Hook out.

---

Posted by Hook @ 1036 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Heroes

trying to grok linked with FALLEN
Brutally Honest linked with Sgt Hook's tribute to Sgt Galvan
Gut Rumbles linked with just damn!
Armies of Liberation linked with Freedom is Not Free
fredschoeneman.com linked with SGT Galvan

Hook, MSG Galvan, and the Galvan family,

My family & I send our sympathies to you and yours. As Hook said, I cannot fathom the anguish… I truly wish there was something I could say that wouldn’t sound so… inadequate. What I can do is add my feeling of pride to yours at what Daniel helped accomplish and what his fellow soldiers continue to do today. I know the reports you see on the news at night would have you believe it’s a hopeless cause and that no one here in the States is truly behind our men.

Not true.

We are. It’s not hopeless. And we grieve with you.

Regards,

Ric James & family
Sterling, VA

Comment by Ric James — 18 August 2004 @ 1129

---

Thanks Hook, for sharing. And my prayers go out to SGT. Galvin’s family and friends in this time of mourning. I’m touched by their graciousness and strength.

God Bless The Galvin Family. God Bless our military and their families.

Comment by Tammi — 18 August 2004 @ 1306

---

Dear Family,
You can never understand the gratitude that ordinary Americans such as myself feel for the sacrifice you and your son have made on our behalf. I can never repay you for your sacrifice - yet I will never forget your sacrifice. It is because of brave young men and women such as your son that I can live free and my child has a secure future.

You have truly given more than one family should - but your gift to us will always be cherished, never forgotten, never surrendered. Please take comfort in the fact that there are the silent majority of Americans who cry with you, grief with you and share pride with you. Your son was an American hero and he will be remembered as such for my lifetime.

As a Mom and a daughter, I shudder to think of the loss you now bear for my freedom, yet I am eternally grateful. May you always find the strength to smile, laugh and remember Daniel’s special place in your lives. Please tell his wife and children that he was an American hero to us and we are thinking of them.

Thank you for your sacrifices, and thank you Daniel for protecting my freedoms. You are my American hero. May God bless you and may you have the strength you need through love, laughter and fond memories as you grieve for the loss of this great young man. He now watches over us all.

Comment by Kathleen Acton — 18 August 2004 @ 1309

---

My prayers are with the family of SGT. Galvin. Thank you for sharing what we would never have been able to know about without your blog. I’m thankful that you have the time to let the rest of us to see things that are happening there since we don’t get all the story from the media or from our own (#1 Son doesn’t want me to worry). Thank you again. Prayers for all there and those at home.

Comment by Laura — 18 August 2004 @ 1358

---

Daniel was a good friend of mine in High School, one of the best I ever had. He was a very giving and loving guy. I think we “girls” my sister Jana, April, Jennifer and Kimmy wore his leather jacket more than he did. He couldn’t stand to see us cold it was just the kind of guy he was, self sacrificing and kind. I’ll never forget the friendship we shared with Daniel. I am very blessed to have had the chance to know such a great guy.

Jelena

Comment by Jelena Ann Owings-Newell — 18 August 2004 @ 1511

---

Dear Galvan family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you for the loss of Daniel. I have never been in the military but am just in awe of the selfless actions of men and women like Daniel so that we Americans can sleep safe in our beds.

May God grant you peace and in time heal your hearts in this overwhelming loss to your family.

David King
St. Louis, MO

Comment by itismedavid — 18 August 2004 @ 1600

---

SGT Galvan
Michael Moore doesn’t care about soldiers, but Sgt Hook does: I attended a memorial service for SGT Galvan earlier today, held in the small base chapel built of plywood and faith. At the front, on the altar was placed a…

Trackback by fredschoeneman.com — 18 August 2004 @ 1643

---

I’m sorry.

f

Comment by Fred Schoeneman — 18 August 2004 @ 1645

---

Dear Galvan Family:

The price of losing a son, brother, husband is a very high price to pay for our freedom. I thank you for the service of an american hero. I can not even imagine how you must feel. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and all of our troops. Freedom is not free, some pay a very high price, and you have have paid the highest of all.

Mary, Proud Army Mom of Daniel

Comment by Mary Ellen — 18 August 2004 @ 1746

---

Freedom is Not Free
I am greatful to Hook that somehow this family knows that real tears were shed all over America for Daniel, that our prayers will remain with his family for all our lives, and that we are committed to completing the mission as well.

Trackback by Armies of Liberation — 18 August 2004 @ 1901

---

Galvan Family,

I am truly sorry for your loss. All I know of Daniel is what is conveyed by HOOK’s site, and the others who knew him. In that regard, this world and our country, has suffered by his loss, but also gained a measure of hope by his service to our country and his greatest sacrifice. He now walks with our Lord. Take care. God bless out troops.

Comment by Rey Dominguez, Jr. USN Ret. — 18 August 2004 @ 2056

---

just damn!
Go read this. And keep a box of Kleenex handy. If you’re like me, you’ll need ‘em….

Trackback by Gut Rumbles — 18 August 2004 @ 2340

---

Inspiring words to read. Thank you Galvan’s for your service and sacrifice.

Comment by Wallace-Midland, Texas — 18 August 2004 @ 2343

---

Thanks, Hook, for having this forum.

Thanks, MSG Galvin, for the sacrifice of your son.

May God bless you all and keep you safe. The Major and I keep you in our prayers regularly.

TheMajor’sLady

Comment by Lornkanaga — 18 August 2004 @ 2354

---

Sgt Hook’s tribute to Sgt Galvan
A must read: We’ve all been asked to give of ourselves for this deployment fighting the War on Terror. To give a year apart from our families, to miss our kids’ birthdays, to mark the passing of our anniversaries alone,

Trackback by Brutally Honest — 19 August 2004 @ 0023

---

MSG Galvan, I’m so glad you have been able to see the comments from all of us who are praying for your family. Just know that for every one of us who comments here, there are many many more, who feel the same way, but don’t leave a comment. We are all with you in spirit.

Comment by Teresa — 19 August 2004 @ 0129

---

To the Galvin Family,
I grieve for the loss of a great American, whose name I will forever honor for his call to duty in serving our Nation. You have given so much of yourselves on behalf of liberty, I am humbled to call myself an American. I am eternally grateful for the service your son gave when called upon. May God comfort your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Comment by susan — 19 August 2004 @ 0218

---

Sometimes it is very difficult to read your blog, but very necessary. Posts like this one make me proud to call myself an American when it means I share that with people like Sgt. Galvan and his family.

Comment by Retread — 19 August 2004 @ 1442

---

Hook, I had the same thing happen to me on my blog: when I wrote about the memorial service we had here for PFC Jason Ludlam, his sister’s friend showed it to her and Erin Ludlam contacted me. We never know who will be reading our blogs…

Comment by Sarah — 26 August 2004 @ 1334

---

FALLEN
I’ve written before about parents of fallen Soldiers who don’t support the mission. I think it’s very sad. But today, through Sgt Hook, I was moved to tears by a parent who does support his fallen son, in a very…

Trackback by trying to grok — 26 August 2004 @ 1347

---

Really amazing! Useful information. All the best.

Comment by Catherine Grady — 13 July 2006 @ 1216

---

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website