Price of peace, happiness, freedom

To the editor:

Cindy Sheehan asked President Bush, "Why did my son have to die in Iraq?" Another mother asked President Kennedy, "Why did my son have to die in Vietnam?" Another mother asked President Truman, "Why did my son have to die in Korea?" Another mother asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima?" Another mother asked President Wilson, "Why did my son have to die on the battlefield of France?" Yet another mother asked President Lincoln, "Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg?" And yet another mother asked President Washington, "Why did my son have to die near Valley Forge?" Then a long time ago, a mother asked, "Heavenly Father, why did my son have to die on a cross outside of Jerusalem?" The answers to all these are similar: "That others may have life and dwell in peace, happiness and freedom." (Jesus is the only one who can give eternal life as well as the other benefits.) -- Author unknown

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." -- John F. Kennedy

GERARD MACKE, Leopold, Mo.