Congressman: freedom comes with a bill

BY DAN HILDEBRAN

ClayCivic.com Publisher

Congressman Aaron Bean used a childhood memory to illustrate his opinion that the sacrifices of veterans are underappreciated.

Bean spoke at the Town of Orange Park’s Memorial Day observance at Magnolia Cemetery and recalled that growing up as the youngest of nine children, his family rarely ate out.

“I remember begging my mom: ‘Let’s go out to dinner,’” he recalled, “and she would always tell me: ‘No, it has to be a special occasion.’ Only later in life, when I had my kids with my wife Abby, what the problem was: There’s a bill when you go out to dinner.”

Bean said that many Americans are like he was growing up. They are unaware that the freedoms they enjoy come with a bill.

“We see the bill being paid when those flag-draped coffins arrive at Dover Air Force Base,” he said, “and not only do we see the bill, but we see how incredibly expensive that freedom truly is.”

During his talk, Bean also paid tribute to prisoners of war and service members missing in action. He recognized Blue Star families in the crowd and described his efforts in establishing a POW-MIA museum near the former site of Naval Air Station Cecil Field.  

Also speaking at the event was Sgt. Maj. Ansil Lewis, USMC Ret.

He said over 7,000 men and women were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, like Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, a Guatemalan immigrant who died before he could become a U.S. citizen.

Lewis also spoke about Orange Park native Bradley Crose. The 22-year-old Army Ranger was killed when the Chinook helicopter he was in was shot down in Afghanistan.

Lewis mentioned Lt. John R. Fox, one of seven African American service members awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton in 1997.

On Dec. 6, 1944, Fox called for artillery near Sommocolonia, Italy, which Germans were overrunning. The resulting artillery barrage claimed his own life.

The speaker also recalled Orange Park resident Michael Hoff, who in 1970 was shot down over Laos and was listed as missing in action.

His wife, Mary Helen, later designed the logo for the POW-MIA flag.

“Today is a day of reverence,” Lewis said. “But it should also be a day to give facts and be glad for the many sacrifices made.”

Congressman Aaron Bean said that too many Americans do not realize freedom comes with a bill.

Sgt. Maj. Ansil Lewis, USMC Ret. said over 7,000 men and women were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.