Miss Lynne C. Koch, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter & friend died Thursday, May 6, 2010, at her home. She was 29.
Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Lynne was a lifelong resident of East Brunswick, N.J. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Milltown & a graduate or Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown and Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J. She had attended St. John's University and Seton Hall University.
Lynne was predeceased by a brother; Corporal Steven R. Koch and by her grandfathers, William Koch Sr. and Robert Glassen.
Surviving are her parents a brother and her grandmothers.
Godspeed Lynne. Now in eternity with your beloved brother Steven.
The following is an editorial that Lynne wrote to a local newspaper.
I would like to respond to the multiple articles which were run in the Editorial section on September 16, 2008. Several of these articles argue that our young men and women currently stand at the fore front of a conflict dubbed "The Bush War". And that the "cost of the war" has resulted in over 4,000 lives lost, over 30,000 troops inj...ured, many families grieving and torn, and trillions of taxpayers' dollars.
Though these figures are disturbing and overall extremely heartbreaking, especially for the families who are left to cope with the losses of loved ones, raising children alone, and those who are spending day after day in therapy hoping to recover from their injuries just enough to be able return to the American way of life. A way of life which most Americans take for granted. Those who deem this war "Bush's" are ignorant to the true nature behind a conflict that originated and continues to be fueled by a people influenced so greatly by a religion taken too literally and too extremely. This is not "Bush's War". This is a war against a terrorist people. A "War Against Terrorism". A war which began September 11, 2001.
America's troops, I remind you, are volunteers. They volunteer to defend the greatest country this world has to offer. They volunteer for many reasons - stability, education, but most of all, patriotism. They defend this nation with honor and pride. And they believe in what they are fighting for. They are protecting those who are unable to do so for themselves. Many in this nation have seemed to have forgotten this fact. President Bush did not knock on these young peoples' doors and send them across the ocean to die. They volunteered to protect the rights and freedoms everyone across each ocean ought to be able to posses. And though America has lost many of our own, there are many across the seas that can be grateful they are still standing today because of those losses.
It is unfortunate, but necessary that the United States of America has become the governing force against many of the world's atrocities. "We should help them" has become a commonplace phrase after a hurricane, a tsunami, and an earthquake. But does that phrase only apply to those nations who are not carrying weapons, torturing children, or committing genocide? Does it not apply to the people who are unfortunately "imprisoned" under a dictatorship like rule? No, most of us would rather just send a donation or canned food and think to ourselves "I did something good today". We have become so desensitized as a nation. We have forgotten that our armed forces are needed by many around the world for many different reasons. And protection is one of them.
And it is only quite recent that an American has stood next to another person across the seas and called him "brother in arms", in an attempt to topple a dictating government. How many were lost during the greatest wars this world has ever seen? Hundreds of thousands. And yet we stand in protest of our young soldiers who have followed their ancestors across those same oceans to fight, protect, and defeat an unjust enemy to restore a sense of peace and fairness in a world full of hate. Each one of these soldiers deserves a simple "Thank you". They are all heroes – honorable and proud. It is unfortunate that we have lost as many as we have, but to speak of the war and the President, and then to use these young men and women as pawns in your politics is simply disrespectful.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter in an attempt to explain to those that there were some that were so compelled by the unexpected violence of September 11, 2001, that they heard the "call to arms". They decided, not President Bush, that they would be the ones to protect the unprotected, the innocent. They would become the heroes that America could depend on. They would risk their lives, their freedoms, and their families, for the safety of others, people they never knew. This is an unselfish act and honorable sacrifice which Americans ought to be grateful for. Please respect their decision. Please pray for them and their families. It is our great nation which allows us to do so.
Lynne Koch - Milltown, NJ
Sister of Cpl. Steven R. Koch
1/508 P.I.R., 82nd Airborne – K.I.A. 3/3/08
Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Lynne was a lifelong resident of East Brunswick, N.J. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Milltown & a graduate or Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown and Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J. She had attended St. John's University and Seton Hall University.
Lynne was predeceased by a brother; Corporal Steven R. Koch and by her grandfathers, William Koch Sr. and Robert Glassen.
Surviving are her parents a brother and her grandmothers.
Godspeed Lynne. Now in eternity with your beloved brother Steven.
The following is an editorial that Lynne wrote to a local newspaper.
I would like to respond to the multiple articles which were run in the Editorial section on September 16, 2008. Several of these articles argue that our young men and women currently stand at the fore front of a conflict dubbed "The Bush War". And that the "cost of the war" has resulted in over 4,000 lives lost, over 30,000 troops inj...ured, many families grieving and torn, and trillions of taxpayers' dollars.
Though these figures are disturbing and overall extremely heartbreaking, especially for the families who are left to cope with the losses of loved ones, raising children alone, and those who are spending day after day in therapy hoping to recover from their injuries just enough to be able return to the American way of life. A way of life which most Americans take for granted. Those who deem this war "Bush's" are ignorant to the true nature behind a conflict that originated and continues to be fueled by a people influenced so greatly by a religion taken too literally and too extremely. This is not "Bush's War". This is a war against a terrorist people. A "War Against Terrorism". A war which began September 11, 2001.
America's troops, I remind you, are volunteers. They volunteer to defend the greatest country this world has to offer. They volunteer for many reasons - stability, education, but most of all, patriotism. They defend this nation with honor and pride. And they believe in what they are fighting for. They are protecting those who are unable to do so for themselves. Many in this nation have seemed to have forgotten this fact. President Bush did not knock on these young peoples' doors and send them across the ocean to die. They volunteered to protect the rights and freedoms everyone across each ocean ought to be able to posses. And though America has lost many of our own, there are many across the seas that can be grateful they are still standing today because of those losses.
It is unfortunate, but necessary that the United States of America has become the governing force against many of the world's atrocities. "We should help them" has become a commonplace phrase after a hurricane, a tsunami, and an earthquake. But does that phrase only apply to those nations who are not carrying weapons, torturing children, or committing genocide? Does it not apply to the people who are unfortunately "imprisoned" under a dictatorship like rule? No, most of us would rather just send a donation or canned food and think to ourselves "I did something good today". We have become so desensitized as a nation. We have forgotten that our armed forces are needed by many around the world for many different reasons. And protection is one of them.
And it is only quite recent that an American has stood next to another person across the seas and called him "brother in arms", in an attempt to topple a dictating government. How many were lost during the greatest wars this world has ever seen? Hundreds of thousands. And yet we stand in protest of our young soldiers who have followed their ancestors across those same oceans to fight, protect, and defeat an unjust enemy to restore a sense of peace and fairness in a world full of hate. Each one of these soldiers deserves a simple "Thank you". They are all heroes – honorable and proud. It is unfortunate that we have lost as many as we have, but to speak of the war and the President, and then to use these young men and women as pawns in your politics is simply disrespectful.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter in an attempt to explain to those that there were some that were so compelled by the unexpected violence of September 11, 2001, that they heard the "call to arms". They decided, not President Bush, that they would be the ones to protect the unprotected, the innocent. They would become the heroes that America could depend on. They would risk their lives, their freedoms, and their families, for the safety of others, people they never knew. This is an unselfish act and honorable sacrifice which Americans ought to be grateful for. Please respect their decision. Please pray for them and their families. It is our great nation which allows us to do so.
Lynne Koch - Milltown, NJ
Sister of Cpl. Steven R. Koch
1/508 P.I.R., 82nd Airborne – K.I.A. 3/3/08
Miss Lynne C. Koch, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter & friend died Thursday, May 6, 2010, at her home. She was 29.
Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Lynne was a lifelong resident of East Brunswick, N.J. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Milltown & a graduate or Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown and Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J. She had attended St. John's University and Seton Hall University.
Lynne was predeceased by a brother; Corporal Steven R. Koch and by her grandfathers, William Koch Sr. and Robert Glassen.
Surviving are her parents a brother and her grandmothers.
Godspeed Lynne. Now in eternity with your beloved brother Steven.
The following is an editorial that Lynne wrote to a local newspaper.
I would like to respond to the multiple articles which were run in the Editorial section on September 16, 2008. Several of these articles argue that our young men and women currently stand at the fore front of a conflict dubbed "The Bush War". And that the "cost of the war" has resulted in over 4,000 lives lost, over 30,000 troops inj...ured, many families grieving and torn, and trillions of taxpayers' dollars.
Though these figures are disturbing and overall extremely heartbreaking, especially for the families who are left to cope with the losses of loved ones, raising children alone, and those who are spending day after day in therapy hoping to recover from their injuries just enough to be able return to the American way of life. A way of life which most Americans take for granted. Those who deem this war "Bush's" are ignorant to the true nature behind a conflict that originated and continues to be fueled by a people influenced so greatly by a religion taken too literally and too extremely. This is not "Bush's War". This is a war against a terrorist people. A "War Against Terrorism". A war which began September 11, 2001.
America's troops, I remind you, are volunteers. They volunteer to defend the greatest country this world has to offer. They volunteer for many reasons - stability, education, but most of all, patriotism. They defend this nation with honor and pride. And they believe in what they are fighting for. They are protecting those who are unable to do so for themselves. Many in this nation have seemed to have forgotten this fact. President Bush did not knock on these young peoples' doors and send them across the ocean to die. They volunteered to protect the rights and freedoms everyone across each ocean ought to be able to posses. And though America has lost many of our own, there are many across the seas that can be grateful they are still standing today because of those losses.
It is unfortunate, but necessary that the United States of America has become the governing force against many of the world's atrocities. "We should help them" has become a commonplace phrase after a hurricane, a tsunami, and an earthquake. But does that phrase only apply to those nations who are not carrying weapons, torturing children, or committing genocide? Does it not apply to the people who are unfortunately "imprisoned" under a dictatorship like rule? No, most of us would rather just send a donation or canned food and think to ourselves "I did something good today". We have become so desensitized as a nation. We have forgotten that our armed forces are needed by many around the world for many different reasons. And protection is one of them.
And it is only quite recent that an American has stood next to another person across the seas and called him "brother in arms", in an attempt to topple a dictating government. How many were lost during the greatest wars this world has ever seen? Hundreds of thousands. And yet we stand in protest of our young soldiers who have followed their ancestors across those same oceans to fight, protect, and defeat an unjust enemy to restore a sense of peace and fairness in a world full of hate. Each one of these soldiers deserves a simple "Thank you". They are all heroes – honorable and proud. It is unfortunate that we have lost as many as we have, but to speak of the war and the President, and then to use these young men and women as pawns in your politics is simply disrespectful.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter in an attempt to explain to those that there were some that were so compelled by the unexpected violence of September 11, 2001, that they heard the "call to arms". They decided, not President Bush, that they would be the ones to protect the unprotected, the innocent. They would become the heroes that America could depend on. They would risk their lives, their freedoms, and their families, for the safety of others, people they never knew. This is an unselfish act and honorable sacrifice which Americans ought to be grateful for. Please respect their decision. Please pray for them and their families. It is our great nation which allows us to do so.
Lynne Koch - Milltown, NJ
Sister of Cpl. Steven R. Koch
1/508 P.I.R., 82nd Airborne – K.I.A. 3/3/08
Born in New Brunswick, N.J., Lynne was a lifelong resident of East Brunswick, N.J. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church in Milltown & a graduate or Our Lady of Lourdes School in Milltown and Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J. She had attended St. John's University and Seton Hall University.
Lynne was predeceased by a brother; Corporal Steven R. Koch and by her grandfathers, William Koch Sr. and Robert Glassen.
Surviving are her parents a brother and her grandmothers.
Godspeed Lynne. Now in eternity with your beloved brother Steven.
The following is an editorial that Lynne wrote to a local newspaper.
I would like to respond to the multiple articles which were run in the Editorial section on September 16, 2008. Several of these articles argue that our young men and women currently stand at the fore front of a conflict dubbed "The Bush War". And that the "cost of the war" has resulted in over 4,000 lives lost, over 30,000 troops inj...ured, many families grieving and torn, and trillions of taxpayers' dollars.
Though these figures are disturbing and overall extremely heartbreaking, especially for the families who are left to cope with the losses of loved ones, raising children alone, and those who are spending day after day in therapy hoping to recover from their injuries just enough to be able return to the American way of life. A way of life which most Americans take for granted. Those who deem this war "Bush's" are ignorant to the true nature behind a conflict that originated and continues to be fueled by a people influenced so greatly by a religion taken too literally and too extremely. This is not "Bush's War". This is a war against a terrorist people. A "War Against Terrorism". A war which began September 11, 2001.
America's troops, I remind you, are volunteers. They volunteer to defend the greatest country this world has to offer. They volunteer for many reasons - stability, education, but most of all, patriotism. They defend this nation with honor and pride. And they believe in what they are fighting for. They are protecting those who are unable to do so for themselves. Many in this nation have seemed to have forgotten this fact. President Bush did not knock on these young peoples' doors and send them across the ocean to die. They volunteered to protect the rights and freedoms everyone across each ocean ought to be able to posses. And though America has lost many of our own, there are many across the seas that can be grateful they are still standing today because of those losses.
It is unfortunate, but necessary that the United States of America has become the governing force against many of the world's atrocities. "We should help them" has become a commonplace phrase after a hurricane, a tsunami, and an earthquake. But does that phrase only apply to those nations who are not carrying weapons, torturing children, or committing genocide? Does it not apply to the people who are unfortunately "imprisoned" under a dictatorship like rule? No, most of us would rather just send a donation or canned food and think to ourselves "I did something good today". We have become so desensitized as a nation. We have forgotten that our armed forces are needed by many around the world for many different reasons. And protection is one of them.
And it is only quite recent that an American has stood next to another person across the seas and called him "brother in arms", in an attempt to topple a dictating government. How many were lost during the greatest wars this world has ever seen? Hundreds of thousands. And yet we stand in protest of our young soldiers who have followed their ancestors across those same oceans to fight, protect, and defeat an unjust enemy to restore a sense of peace and fairness in a world full of hate. Each one of these soldiers deserves a simple "Thank you". They are all heroes – honorable and proud. It is unfortunate that we have lost as many as we have, but to speak of the war and the President, and then to use these young men and women as pawns in your politics is simply disrespectful.
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter in an attempt to explain to those that there were some that were so compelled by the unexpected violence of September 11, 2001, that they heard the "call to arms". They decided, not President Bush, that they would be the ones to protect the unprotected, the innocent. They would become the heroes that America could depend on. They would risk their lives, their freedoms, and their families, for the safety of others, people they never knew. This is an unselfish act and honorable sacrifice which Americans ought to be grateful for. Please respect their decision. Please pray for them and their families. It is our great nation which allows us to do so.
Lynne Koch - Milltown, NJ
Sister of Cpl. Steven R. Koch
1/508 P.I.R., 82nd Airborne – K.I.A. 3/3/08
