A Soldier's Perspective » abraham lincoln http://militarygear.com/asp The Web’s Leading Military Blog Since 2004 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:00:42 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Letter to Mrs. Bixby http://militarygear.com/asp/2010/02/04/letter-to-mrs-bixby/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=letter-to-mrs-bixby http://militarygear.com/asp/2010/02/04/letter-to-mrs-bixby/#comments Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:21:16 +0000 CJ http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=6607 As I sit here awaiting my turn to pee in a cup for the 100% company urinalysis, I started reading through some historical and inspirational documents. I was reminded of a letter that President Abraham Lincoln sent to Mrs. Bixby, a five time Gold Star Mom during the Civil War. Many of you have probably read this at some point in your lives, but if you havent I thought it appropriate considering the circumstances in which our country currently finds itself and wonder if there is a modern day Mrs. Bixby or Abraham Lincoln out there.

Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov.21, 1864.

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln

]]> http://militarygear.com/asp/2010/02/04/letter-to-mrs-bixby/feed/ 8