PHB interview: Darren Manzella, March 8, 2008 - 16th Annual SLDN Dinner

• Report rights infringement
• published: 31 Aug 2013
• views: 368

8/30/2013: Sgt. Manzella a soldier who fought for DADT repeal, was tragically killed in highway accident in Rochester, N.Y. 3/8/2008: Darren Manzella, an Army Sergeant who served a tour of duty in Iraq, came out of the closet to his colleagues and commanding officer and served openly in Kuwait was featured on 60 Minutes. He was the recipient of the Barry Winchell Courage Award, presented by Pat and Wally Kutteles, the parents of Winchell at the 16th Annual Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Dinner. Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend live-blogged the event and interviewed him that evening. In this interview he talked about serving in silence and others who remained in the closet and serving their country under Don't Ask, Don't Tell and what it felt like to receive this honor. Below is the speech he delivered when handed the award. --- "Thank you, Pat & Wally, for this extraordinary honor. I am so moved and inspired by your own courage in honoring your son's memory by doing such important work. You are heroes to the service members in our armed forces, and you are role models for parents, family members and friends everywhere. It is my privilege to join you this evening and to accept the Barry Winchell Courage Award. I also want to share this award with the amazing staff at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Particularly Steve Ralls, who supported my Mom and me throughout this journey and without whom the 60 Minutes piece would never have happened. I also would like to thank my personal legal team of Kathi Westcott, Aaron Tax and Sharra Greer. SLDN is truly a lifeline for our troops, and I can't imagine not having them on the other end of the phone line to help me navigate this law and give me the best legal counsel imaginable. When SLDN first approached me, more than six months ago, about speaking with Lesley Stahl and 60 Minutes, my first response was: What will it mean? What will happen? Will my speaking out help the brothers-in-arms that I have been so privileged to serve with? And as I asked those questions, I soon realized that this was not just an opportunity to tell my story, but also to give voice to the countless thousands of LGBT Americans who are serving under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." They have been silenced too long, forgotten too long and left out of the American dream for too, too long. And so I began to realize, that through the power of this story, my own voice could be magnified thousands of times over, and finally show the public that, yes, there are gay Americans fighting and dying for our country; and that, yes, those men and women deserve the same freedoms they are defending at home and abroad. We are Americans, too So very early one morning in Kuwait City, I sat down with the crew from 60 Minutes and told my story and the story of everyone who is serving under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The response has been, quite honestly, a little overwhelming. I have received emails from service members I have never met and messages from parents who are proud of their own lesbian or gay child serving in the military. I have heard from commanders who do not support this ban, and from veterans dismissed under it who are anxious for the day repeal will happen. Each of them, like Pat and Wally Kutteles, have been a source of irreplaceable motivation. And each of them, like all of you, are determined to see this law end. It is their courage, and your courage that is making the real difference for our men and women in uniform. That courage is truly what deserves an award, because it is what keeps all of us in the military going each and every day knowing that someday soon we will serve under the same freedoms we seek for those we are fighting for. I am reminded of Nelson Mandela's inspiring words: "After climbing a great hill, one finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk has not yet ended." Freedom to be ourselves, honor ourselves and love who we are is the only course to take to find freedom for us all. Tonight, let there be no mistake that our message is this: If you are serving in silence somewhere, we give you our words, and our actions, to end your loneliness. If you have been in these shadows too long, know that we are here in our nation's capital to welcome you into the sunshine. And if you have been told that you are somehow 'less than,' know that you are not. America is beginning to clearly see that you are not. Change is on the way, and it begins here, in this place. When I appeared on 60 Minutes, 15 million people heard my voice, speaking for the thousands who are forced to serve in silence. Together we are breaking the silence. Thank you for this honor, and thank you for all you do every day."