Thank you, thank you, thank you!

We thank everyone who took such a personal interest in the successful fight to have my son, Marine 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, exonerated of all the charges against him giving him freedom and restoring his good name.

Overwhelming support came from people in every state in the Union and beyond, starting with an outraged, highly decorated WWII veteran from the famed Army Infantry's 84th Railsplitters to an 8 year old boy who so wanted to see justice prevail. A mother whose Marine son was killed with seven other Marines by a white SUV car bomb in Iraq gave us her support. Powerful prayers, letters, emails and telephone calls gave us strength. Knowing that so many concerned citizens were aware and outraged and taking action along with us made it possible to face each day with renewed energy.

We thank those of you in the media: radio, print, TV, and the vast internet with its brilliant bloggers. Thank you for your investigative work and for keeping Ilario's story before the public where it was closely observed. Your focused light shining on this dark chapter helped bring the truth forward.

We thank you, Michael Savage, for inviting Ilario and me on to The Savage Nation. Fortuitously, one night among your many listeners was the distinguished Congressman Walter B. Jones, who after hearing our discussion had the courage and foresight to author House Resolution No.167, taking this tragic story from the air waves to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Thank you to the skillful and brilliant civilian/military defense team which so competently and diligently protected my son's rights.

At that wonderful moment when we learned, from the media, that the charges against my son had been dropped and dismissed, we felt the relief that comes after a long, hard struggle. We cannot help but wonder why. We hope that some good will come from this difficult experience. Fortunately, and we thank God everyday, Ilario came home alive and well, and was able to continue the battle for his life in a court of law. It has been an uncommon experience. We have all learned. We have grown stronger. Our family will always be grateful for the efforts made by so many great patriots to make sure that justice ultimately prevailed.

We will not take our freedoms for granted. We are grateful to those who have fought so hard and to those who have given their all for the rights and the freedoms we so casually enjoy in our everyday lives. God bless America.

Merry K. Gregory Pantano
Proud mother of Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano
Founder, DefendtheDefenders.org

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