The life and struggles of Tomas Young are a lesson, and a reminder, that we do not take care of those who fight and die to take care of us. Thomas enlisted in the Armed Forces after 9/11 and now is dying from injuries sustained during combat in Sadr City, Iraq. He is a wounded veteran. He fought for his country. He doesn't have long to live. I want the President of the United States to award him the medal before his death. Thomas needs to know that we care. ALL veterans need to know that we care.

He deserves more than the Purple Heart medal. He deserves to have that medal presented to him by the President of the United States. He deserves to know that we heard him. He deserves to be more than just a by-line of a news story. He, and many more like him, are deserving of our respect, admiration and sincere thank you for their bravery and service to their country.

He deserves to pass with dignity, and with the knowledge that his life, and his fight, were not in vain. It's not much. The Purple Heart will not cure him. It will not heal his wounds. It will not give him back what a sniper's bullet took from him. It will let him know that we know, that we heard, and that we will continue to fight on his behalf and on behalf of all veterans. It is a start.

Please help me by signing this petition so that Tomas will know exactly how much we appreciate his life. It is a measure of respect and honor due a man that showed us how much he loved his country by fighting for the one thing that you and I take for granted everyday; freedom.

I do not know Tomas. I have never met him, but I was so moved by his story that I wanted to do something. Once you know the truth, you become responsible for it. This is one of the ways in which I am taking responsibility for that truth.

Tomas fought for us. I'm now asking for your help to fight for him. We may not win, but he needs to know that we at least tried. He deserves to know that someone cared enough to at least try.