Sample Letter & Poem to Family
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We know that expressing your feelings of gratitude for the ultimate
sacrifice to your freedom is difficult. Below, a sample letter and a
sample poem have been provided to give you ideas of possible
words to use as you search for ways to convey the feelings you
wish to express to the family.
Sample Letter
Dear ________________
My name is ____ and I would like to show your family my gratitude for your
son's / daughter's ultimate sacrifice to the freedom I enjoy by running the
_____ Marathon in honor of your (son / daughter / husband / wife), (rank /
name). Please read this letter explaining my goal and my offer of a gift to
your family.
I see the troops on television and I think of how lucky I am to have them
fighting for me. I stand here today free because they serve in the military.
For the ones who will not come back from war, I understand that very few
Medals of Honor are given. I hope to change that. All finishers of this
Marathon will be given a finisher’s medal. I want to turn this finisher’s medal
into a Medal of Honor by running “In Honor” of your loved one.
The finisher’s medal will be earned. It will be a symbol for my sweat, my
discipline, my pain, and my sacrifice. I am thankful that I have the freedom
to accomplish such a goal. I owe that freedom, in part, to the sweat,
discipline, pain, and sacrifice of your loved one. I believe by running this
Marathon I will be able to earn a Medal worthy of expressing my gratitude for
your loved one’s sacrifice.
I want you to know I will not let _____ be forgotten. My wife, my family, my
friends, and perhaps people I have just met will all know of _____ and (his /
her) courageous sacrifice to this nation. My phone number is _____ and I
live in _____. My address is _____. My email is _____ , please contact
me so I can discuss this with you. I can drive out to meet you and give you
the Medal of Honor or I can send it in the mail with a letter. Or, if you do not
want me to do this in _____‘s memory, I will not. My hope is to honor your
family and to honor your loved one, but only in a way that makes you feel
comfortable.
Gratefully Yours,
_____________
Sample Poem
THIS YOUNGEST SON OF 21, BORN IN 1981.
OH -- THIS YOUNGEST SON OF 21, BORN IN 1981.
YOU RISKED IT ALL AND YOU GAVE IT ALL, FOR ALL OF THEM AND FOR ME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME FREE. BUT IT’S MORE
THAN THAT: YOU INSPIRED ME TO BE A BETTER MAN, TO BE LESS NEGATIVE
AND TO DO THE BEST I CAN.
I WILL RUN THE TOUGHEST RACE WE HAVE TO SHOW, AND I WILL WEAR
YOUR PICTURE SO EVERYONE WILL KNOW
THAT AS LONG AS I LIVE, YOUR MEMORY WILL LIVE ON: IN THOUGHTS, IN
DEEDS, IN STRUGGLE, AND IN SONG.
LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT-RIGHT, CONTINUE THE FIGHT!!!
I WILL NOT STOP. I WILL NOT STOP, ON THIS DAY OR ON ANY ANOTHER.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU DESERVE: MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER.
PEOPLE ASK IF I KNEW YOU AND I SAY “NO.”
BUT NOW, AS I LOOK INSIDE, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT SO.
