Recently, our communities gathered in our annual Memorial Day commemorations to recognize those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This week, as we mourn the loss of another of our country’s best and brightest, we again reflect on the courage of our servicemen and women. The famous World War II era reporter Elmer Davis rightly commented that “this nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” Warrant Officer Sean Mullen exemplified that bravery.

A member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, Warrant Officer Mullen grew up right here in Dover, Delaware. He attended high school and college here and, as his mother said this week, he was just a great kid. Warrant Officer Mullen lost his life to wounds suffered in battle in Afghanistan, where he fought as a member of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group Airborne, based out of Fort Campbell. His service epitomized the patriotism, selflessness and courage displayed by Delawareans throughout history who have sacrificed to protect the freedoms that we so often take for granted.

Our hearts break for his family and, on behalf of our state, we offer them our deepest gratitude and sympathy. We will never be able to fully express the gratitude and honor deserved by those who have fought – and sometimes died – wearing the cloth of our nation. But perhaps the greatest tribute that we can pay to Warrant Officer Mullen, and his comrades past and present, is simply to keep their memories alive, allowing them to continue to inspire new generations of Americans. May God bless all those who are serving and their families, and may God bless the United States of America.

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