An e-mail from Colly

This past week I was humbled and convicted by an e-mail I received late Friday night. That e-mail was from Colly Norman, a 2002 graduate from Cook County High School. The e-mail was no longer than an extended paragraph, but it spoke volumes to me about the type of man Colly is, the sacrifice our service men and women are making overseas, and the way I should live to honor their commitment to our country.

Norman was an exceptional student-athlete at Cook County High School. He led his team to the state tournament in both basketball and football. While success has found Norman in everything he does, one of his greatest attributes is his humility. Success has never gone to his head and he has continued to search out new ways to challenge himself both mentally and physically.

In addition to his drive for challenges, Norman has always had a heart to serve others. I remember when my wife Sharon and I were first married—I was going to go to Virginia, Minnesota to move her belongings to our home in Grand Marais. I rented a U-Haul truck and Colly and I made the trek in the early hours to load up furniture, etc. and bring it back to Grand Marais. Colly didn’t want payment; he just wanted to help out. He was always willing to serve.

First Lieutenant Colgan W. Norman This young man’s need for challenges and willingness to serve, along with his gifted physical and mental abilities has him in “the thick of it” in Afghanistan. Norman is currently a First Lieutenant in the Marines and is a Scout Sniper Platoon Commander. This is a nice way of saying that his small “sniper unit” group goes out ahead of his battalion and takes care of “business.”

He shared with me that this past week he lost one of his best Team Leaders to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). He left behind a beautiful wife and four-year-old daughter. Thatis when the e-mail really sunk in.

I humbly admit that I don’t wake up each morning and think, “We (the United States) are at war.” Yet we are. Most of us go through our busy self-centered lives and don’t even think about it. I’m sure veterans are very aware of it, in ways I will never be able to understand.

After reading Colly’s e-mail, I had to ask myself, “Are you living a life that would honor that fallen soldier’s sacrifice? Am I living a life that would honor Colly’s service to our country?” Most of us are too busy arguing politics, or worried about what we should receive from the government, to even think about ways we can serve one another.

Downstairs in my house, there is a picture of Colly and me on the wall. I am going to make sure that my kids know exactly what kind of man is serving their country. In addition, I want my kids to be conscious of the fact that we are at war and that we need to pray for our troops and for an end to

this war.

Each morning and each evening I will be on my knees praying for Colly and our troops overseas. I will be praying for his friend’s wife and four-year-old the daughter. Finally, I will do my best to live a life that would honor their service and commitment to this country.

If any of our readers would like to write to First Lieutenant Colgan W. Norman and thank him and his men for their service, you can e-mail me at Meet coach_dorr@yahoo.com. I will reply with his mailing address.

Mitch Dorr, a Cook County High School Class of 1993 graduate, is now a social studies teacher and coach at his former alma mater. Mitch coaches Vikings football and boys’ basketball.