Daniel Hansen - War is personal for me.

Daniel Hansen, a 2002 graduate of West High School, where I teach, was killed in action in Afghanistan on February 14, 2009.  Daniel was an identical twin, and both of the boys were in my class -- both at once during their freshman year, and Matthew again his junior and senior years.  They were so close to each other, and when they joined the Marines after high school, I worried that something would happen to one of them and leave the other devastated.  Something did.  Matthew has carried on, as we all must, but he doesn't ever forget his brother and best friend.  I often think of Daniel and Matthew, and of the sacrifice they have both made for this country.

I was honored to speak at Daniel's memorial service held March 7, 2009 in the West High gym.  This is what I wrote for the service:

"As teachers, we sometimes wonder what kind of impact we have on our students.  We lecture, and grill and drill, and then test to see if they have learned.  We hope they carry our academic lessons with them when they leave us.  Most of us also hope we have instilled in them some truths about how to live a good life and be responsible citizens.

Since Daniel and Matt left West High, I’ve thought about them often, and worried about their safety.  Since I heard the news of Daniel’s death three weeks ago, I’ve reminisced about his time in my classroom.  It occurred to me as I looked as his life then and now that it is Daniel who is doing the teaching and it is we who remain behind who can learn from his example.  Here are a few things Daniel has taught me:

Daniel taught me that I must remember to hold those I love close.  From the beginning of their freshman year, Daniel and Matt were practically one person at West High.  You rarely heard their first names; people just referred to “the Hansens.”  To be honest, I was never very good at telling them apart;  in my seating chart, Daniel was toward the front of the room because D comes before M in the alphabet.  I’m sure the twin bond had something to do with how close they were, but from what I’ve heard, they were just plain best friends too.  They liked being together and, while one might criticize the other, no one else better try it.  I believe either one of them would have sacrificed himself for the other.  Daniel’s relationship with Matthew was just one of his relationships that show us how important it is to love and love well.

Daniel taught me to commit to what I believe in.  Like most boys of his age, school wasn’t the activity of choice for Daniel – he would rather be out doing something physical, preferably in the outdoors.  However, he stuck with his studies and worked hard.  He knew education was important and he did what he needed to do to get the grade.  I think he knew fairly early in his life that he wanted to be a Marine and he committed to the idea of regimen and discipline through the Sea Cadets and through sports.  As a Marine he was committed to the Corp and its values, and to the United States.  What an honor that generals and presidents trusted his commitment enough to put their lives in his hands. (Daniel was part of the security guarding George W. Bush at Camp David, and later guarded the leading general in Iraq.)

Daniel taught me that patriotism is still a really cool thing.  His whole adult life was dedicated to serving the people and the ideals of the United States of America.  He volunteered to do this; no one made him do it.  He believed in the integrity of our nation and wore the colors and symbols of the country proudly.

And Daniel taught me the value of a courageous life.  Whatever else war is, it is ugly.  It is scary.  It is dangerous.  It is a reality.  I don’t think I’m alone when I say that when I consider the possibility of personally facing the kind of danger soldiers face, I feel a knot in my stomach.  Would I be brave?  Or would I try every way I could to weasel out of my duty?  Even when the cause is just, the will may be tempted to bolt.  Daniel fought courageously and for a just cause.  The incredible danger inherent in the EOD’s (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) mission was not an issue.  He braved the danger because he was a Marine and his job was to protect his comrades.

These lessons from Daniel are not exclusive.  I’m proud to have known him and proud to have become his student.  It is my hope that every one of you here can learn these same lessons from Daniel and the men and women like him."