Last week saw the passing and funeral or Senator Edward M. Kennedy. As I watched the funeral services on television yesterday I was struck by the enormity of his and his family's service to our nation. The commentary taught me so much more than I ever knew about Ted Kennedy
We all know of the untimely deaths of his three older brothers in the service of our country, but what became more evident to me was that while the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Jack and Bobby Kennedy may have overshadowed Ted's life in many ways, his service in and the longevity of his tenure in the Senate made him one of the most effective legislators of our time.
Ted Kennedy has his name on nearly 1000 laws passed. He served for nearly 47 years in the Senate, in which time he cast over 15,000 votes. Being 44 years old, the enormity of that much time is incomprehensible. This remarkable legislator served in congress longer than I have been alive.
He worked tirelessly for causes that he felt passionate about, and very often these were causes that did not benefit him personally in any way... he championed causes such as health care, education, civil rights, and worker rights because it was the right thing to do, often for people who were lacking a strong champion for their just causes.
Ted Kennedy was a devoted family man. Anyone watching his funeral, and hearing the eulogies delivered by his son's Ted Jr. and Patrick could have no doubt. And as the Patriarch of the Kennedy family, he also assumed the responsibility for making sure that both Jack's and Bobby's children grew up with a strong male role model. Ted Kennedy was a man who loved and was loved by his extended family.
Ted Kennedy was a caring man. A report I saw today mentioned that he personally called all of the almost 200 Massachusetts families who lost relatives in the 9/11 attacks even wrote the families personal notes on the anniversary of the attacks in which they lost their loved ones. In the same report, the commentator mentioned that there isn't a person in this country who has not benefited in some manner by something he accomplished in his legislative career... and I agree.
So, goodbye Teddy. Rest in eternal peace with your heroic brothers and know that what you said over 29 years ago at the podium in New York City is still relevant and meaningful today, "... the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
May your dream live on in our hearts forever and inspire us to achieve great things for America.
"Every American should have the opportunity to receive a quality education, a job that respects their dignity and protects their safety, and health care that does not condemn those whose health is impaired to a lifetime of poverty and lost opportunity."
Senator Edward M. (Ted) Kennedy (1932 - 2009)
Comments(6)