I had the privilege of meeting "Ted" on more than one occaison. The first was when he spoke at my high school graduation more than 3 decades ago. At the time he was involved in a bitter dispute with his constituents over desegregation and the issue of forced busing. Most of his constituentcy was opposed but "Ted" knew that the moral road demanded an end to the absurd idea that segregation was good for Boston. I can still hear the groans from the audience when he referred to my school (Boston College High) as "South Boston High". I though there would be a revolt right then and there.
Ted would be the first to admit that he made many mistakes in life, who among us hasn't. I think that anyone who has had to live with the tradgedy that he has propably would have succumbed long ago. As the youngest of nine children he learned his place early on. He suffered as his oldest sister Rosemary was institutionalized after a failed attempt by their father tried to help her by having a lobotomy performed. He suffered the loss of his oldest brother Joseph who died when his plane blew up on a suicide mission during World War II. We all know he lost his brothers John and Robert to assination. He also lost his sister Kathleen in a plane crash. He himself broke three vertebrae in his back in a plane crash. He became a father to all his siblings children as well as his own. He suffered through his first wife's alcholism. He perserved and became the spokesmen for not only his large family but for all of us who suffered.
He was present at every single burial for every Massachusetts veteran who died during the Iraq war. After the service of those who were buried at Arlington he would stop by his brothers graves. I can't imagine the hurt he felt.
There could be no better memorial to "Ted" than to pass universal healthcare for all is his honor. After all he served 46+ years in the US Senate trying to get this accomplished. Not because he wanted it but because he saw the need of so many of us who need it.
Thank you "teddy" from all of us.
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