Help Wanted: A Flight of Angels

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy
February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009

We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of America's finest sons, Edward Kennedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and his devoted staffers. Life without him is unimaginable as I've spent a life time listening for his stand on issues, forming my own political views using his positions as a litmus test for fighting the good fight. It was his voice, the voice of reason , I listened to during times of national debate and his voice, a comfort, during national crisis. Now I just don't know who I will listen to.

I wrote to Sen. Kennedy and spoke with his staff regularly stressing the timeliness of obtaining Liberator status, never thinking Sen. Kennedy would be leaving us. Seeing President Obama's motorcade go by my house yesterday I had an epiphany, thinking, hoping that the stars had finally aligned and that this was the moment that I could catch the President's attention. So I rushed about quickly painting a sign and placed it and myself at the edge of the road he had just traveled, certain he would see the sign and take action. What better way to honor his friend and mentor? I sat and waited. The motorcade never did go past as they left East Chop by a different route, so I trudged home with my sign, utterly deflated, defeated on such a sad, sad day.

I thought of my grandmother, Catherine Cowley and her great admiration for the Kennedys and then realized what she would tell me to do- light a candle and pray to St. Jude. St. Jude, the saint of impossible situations, the same saint she prayed to for my father's safe return from the war. The same saint she prayed to for me and my family during difficult times. So I lit a candle. I lit a candle and prayed for Ted, for his family and friends, for our country without him, and for the President to become aware of the 94th and write an Executive Order to grant the 94th Liberator status.

I think Ted would like that.