On Tuesday, former Navy SEAL sniper and best selling author Chris Kyle was laid to rest in Austin, Texas. A day earlier a tearful funeral service attended by thousands was held in the vast Cowboy's Stadium, and still thousands more lined the highway along the 200-mile procession.
Kyle was shot to death on February 2, along with his friend, Chad Littlefield at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range in Erath County, Texas. The alleged shooter was fellow veteran, 25-year-old Eddie Ray Routh, who was reportedly suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Since leaving the Navy in 2009, Kyle worked with various veterans' charities, which included a great deal of time spent helping soldiers with PTSD after their return from Iraq and Afghanistan.
His death has resulted in a nationwide outpouring of grief and support for his widow, Taya and the couple's two children.
On Feburay 5, three days after the Navy SEAL's death, a petition was begun on the White House's official website to name a "US Navy Vessel" in honor of Kyle.
Since that time, only 3,580 signatures (as of 3:45 a.m., Feb. 15) have been added to the petition, far short of the 100,000 needed to gain presidential attention.
The petition reads simply:
Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEAL who wrote the best-selling book American Sniper about his service in Iraq, was shot and killed at a gun range in Texas
In honor of his service. We should honor him by naming a US Naval Vessel After Him.
USS Chris Kyle.
It is difficult to understand why the petition has garnered so little support, averaging only 358 signatures a day since its creation.
Kyle was attached to SEAL Team 3 and earned the title of the U.S. military's deadliest sniper of all-time with 160 confirmed kills during four tours of duty in Iraq. The insurgents who came to fear him, dubbed him the "Devil of Ramadi," and even placed a bounty on his head, eventually totaling $80,000.
He received many distinctions including two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.
Kyle owned Craft International, which provides specialized training to military, law enforcement, and civilians alike. His autobiography, "American Sniper," which was released in February 2012 is currently ranked #3 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
Sign the petition in support of naming a "U.S. Navy Vessel" after Chris Kyle...
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