Terrorism
Terrorism did not start on, September 11, 2001, and for
that matter it did not start on, September 20, 1984, when Ken was killed by
Islamic extremist. Both events represent an awakening. September
11, 2001 for the whole country, and September 20, 1984 an awakening for the
family and friends of Ken Welch. When mention is made that Ken died in
Beirut the most common reply is: Did he die with the US
Marines (October 23, 1983)? He did not. Those brave
souls lost their lives in a totally different act of terrorism a year before
Ken's death. Which was a year after employees of the US
Embassy (April 18, 1983), Beirut, Lebanon lost their lives.
Most of these victims of terrorist attacks in Beirut, and most of our
National heroes, are laid to rest in Arlington
National Cemetery. Those killed in Beirut are laid in Section
59 of Arlington. Ken Welch is interred in grave #529 to the right of
a Lebanon Cedar planted in memory of all the victims of terrorism in
Lebanon.
Lebanon Cedar planted just to the Left of Ken's
gravestone.
click on pictures to enlarge
Stone at base of the Lebanon Cedar
Ken's headstone
The connection between all of these events is the enemy.
Our National enemy. The terrorist. Ruthless evil people who take
what is sacred to us, and all civilized people. They take our family
members. Our beloved. These Terrorist organizations are for the most
part sponsored and funded by the Governments, and organizations around the
world. The primary sponsor of terrorism is the Government of Iran.
To defeat terrorism we must understand it. Part of
the understanding is to learn about all of the terrorist attacks. We
should know our enemies
by their names, and we need to understand the funding sources
established many years ago, and how those money strains exist to this day.
We should understand and study all of the incidents that
have occurred throughout the world, and look for a common enemy and theme.
Khobar
Towers
Lt. Col.
Higgins
Alisa
Flatow
Lockerbie,
Scotland
Robert
Stethem
Israel
And
all those we lost to terrorist
The theory is simple. To conduct all of these
attacks there would need to be organization, communication, and resources.
It would, and does, take a great deal of money, and administration. Stopping
the money and holding the terrorist organizations financially accountable is
a foundation of the fight against terrorist organizations worldwide.
We should never forget those who died at the hands of
terrorist, and vow to hold the people, organizations, and nations completely
accountable for their transgressions against our family members. The
heroes of America.