quote:
(West Hartford-WTNH, Oct. 26, 2005 6:30 PM) _ There are war protests getting underway across Connecticut tonight, marking a somber milestone in Iraq.
The number of troops killed has topped 2,000 and tonight the mother of a fallen Connecticut Marine is urging the country to stand together.
by News Channel 8's Darren Duarte
Leesa Philippon says she will never totally heal from her son's death.
22-year-old Lance Cpl. Lawrence R. Philippon was killed last Mother's Day fighting insurgents in Iraq.
"It's a pain that I know will never go away. It will be there every morning that I wake up and every night when I go to sleep. I feel like Larry is standing at my bed every morning and he tucks me in every night," says Leesa.
She says she will never forget the night that a Marine came to her door to tell her that her eldest son died in battle. That deep emotional pain returned this week after the number of Americans killed in Iraq reached 2,000.
"My heart breaks every time I hear of any of our troops being killed. I know that knock on the door. I know that fear. The 2,000th is as important as the first one that died," says Leesa.
As Americans around the country and here at home plan to hold vigils honoring the fallen and protest the war this West Hartford mother believes their actions may be dividing the nation even more.
"If my son had been dragged into that office to raise his hand to say I will go to war and my son was drafted, then I think those parents would have a right to question. My son, he raised his hand. He said he will honor the Commander in Chief and that he will fight for freedom."
[url="http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4033772&nav=3YeX"]WTNH[/url]