John Kerry: “It is my extraordinary privilege to share a few words with you today about Sgt. Dan Petithory. I am touched that his…”

“It is my extraordinary privilege to share a few words with you today about Sgt. Dan Petithory. I am touched that his family asked me to do so, touched as a veteran who shares with Dan the bond of service in war, touched as a public official who has the privilege of expressing gratitude on behalf of everyone in our State and country whose lives are better for Dan's service, and touched as a citizen and father whose gratitude for Dan's contribution and sacrifice can never be adequately described. No one in all of time has ever been able to soften the blow of a young person dying. I know all too well, as does Senator Kennedy, how the suddenness of death can rob us of those we love and change life forever for those left to live it. But somehow through the tears, God helps us find our way. In the natural order of things, parents are not supposed to bury their children. The pain of doing so is unfathomable and today America's heart and the hearts of all decent, civilized people ache uncontrollably for Louis and Barbara, for Michael and Nicole, and for all the members of their family. But we are comforted above all by knowing this was not a loss in vain. This was not a waste. This was not a death that cannot be explained, difficult as the circumstances were. Sgt. Daniel Petithory died for all of us. He died believing in his country, his values, his brothers in his unit.”