I saw some of Pat Tillman’s memorial service yesterday evening. Senator McCain was speaking when I tuned in, followed by Chief Petty Officer Steven White, who served with Tillman in Iraq. I didn’t catch his introduction, but I think he was a SEAL in the Navy.
He spoke wonderfully and plainly, telling anecdotes about Pat, explaining the heroism that led to his death, and choking back tears. Then he said something that made me well up (and is doing so now):
“It’ll say Pat Tillman, 1976-2004. That one little dash in there represents a lifetime. How do we spend our dash?”