Mayor Krieger, meet Maj. Rogers, a fallen hero who happened to be gay

Dan82 · Jun 21, 2010

http://azstarnet.com/news/opinion/article_c6d1b1f6-2d0d-5117-9ffa-b7a0f82603e4.html

Maj. Alan Greg Rogers was killed by an improvised explosive devise during his second tour of duty in Iraq on Jan. 27, 2008. I wish Yuma Mayor Al Krieger could have met Alan - his life and ultimate sacrifice exemplifies why Krieger owes gay and lesbian servicemembers far more than a faux apology for his recent statement about "limp-wristed" soldiers (see the June 11 article "Ariz. mayor sorry for calling gays 'limp-wristed' ").

Over a decade earlier, Alan and I became friends while he was stationed at Fort Huachuca. His life was as complex as it was inspiring - he was adopted at 5 years old, an intelligence officer in the Army, an ordained Baptist minister, African American, and he also happened to be gay.

Alan loved serving his country, loved his Christian faith and was proudly gay. He not only refused to forsake any part of himself because of anti-gay discrimination, he gave his life for his country despite that discrimination.

After his burial in Arlington National Cemetery, The Washington Post published a story about Alan's life, lauding him as a hero, the recipient of two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. However, many of us who knew Alan were struck by what wasn't part of the story: the fact that he was openly gay and worked to overturn "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Criticized for excluding such a significant part of Alan's life, the Post admitted that "there was enough evidence - particularly of Rogers's feelings about 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - to warrant. . . . adding that dimension to the story of his life. The story would have been richer for it."

In August 2008, that complete story was told by New Yorker magazine, in "A Soldier's Legacy: Don't Ask, Don't Tell, but Alan Rogers was a hero to everyone who knew him." In the article, Alan's friend Shay Hill shared that Alan believed "you don't change the system by alienating those who are against you. You change the system by trying to convince those who are against you."

Alan would have appreciated the opportunity to meet Krieger because he believed in creating change as an insider...
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Mayor Krieger, meet Maj. Rogers, a fallen hero who happened to be gay

Dan82 Full Member

Dan82
Full Member