A Lion's Final Roar

We've seen a lot of loss this year. They say the great ones die too soon. On Tuesday night, Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy lost a 15 month battle to brain cancer. He was 77 years old. He was a devout Catholic who supported abortion. He championed Civil Rights and was an advocate for eradicating poverty.  Younger brother of John F. Kennedy, he held his Senate seat in Massachusetts since 1962.

His legacy leaves mixed emotions among Americans. He had personal controversies, yet he and his staff enacted over 300 bills into law.  At the end of all our lives, it can probably be said of most of us,  that we achieved much but we had flawed character as well as trials and triumphs. Despite his immense success, Kennedy's life was full of contradictions and personal tragedies. Kennedy's "Celebratin of Life" service will be held in Boston, tomorrow, with a eulogy from our illustrious Pres. Barack Obama. He will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in close proximity to both Robert and John who preceeded him in death. Always a twinkle in his eye, the "Lion of the Senate" will roar no more, but his legacy will be remembered for years to come.

Copyright: August 28, 2009 by Pamela Cole Thorpe