C. Kim Bracey is mayor of York, Pennsylvania
Posted on 05/29/2017 1:25:43 PM PDT by lightman
I am a proud, 10-year United States Air Force veteran, a humble servant and defender in a long, noble and inspiring tradition of military service.
For generations, from Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill in Massachusetts to Yorktown, Va., to the halls of Montezuma, to the wheat fields of Gettysburg, to the shores of Tripoli, to the trenches of Germany, to now serene Pearl Harbor, to the beachheads of Normandy, to the rocky heights of Iwo Jima, to the rugged coasts of Korea, to the jungles of Vietnam, to the mean streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, to the hills and dunes of Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond, brave American men and women have risked limb and life, spilled blood, and made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of freedom.
Through their devotion and deeds, the indomitable spirit of America not only endures, it prevails. And it inspires new torchbearers of freedom into the 21st century. Let us rejoice in and give thanks to the ones who live and remember.
The writer of the epic World War II movie, “Saving Private Ryan,” Robert Rodat, came up with the film's story in 1994 when he saw a monument dedicated to four sons of Agnes Allison of Port Carbon, Pa., in Schuylkill County in the heart of “Coal Country.” The brothers were killed in the American Civil War.
Rodat decided to write a similar story set during World War II.
In “Saving Private Ryan,” Army Chief of Staff and chief military adviser George Marshall charges a special group of Army officers, led by a Captain Miller, to find the only surviving son of his mother, Mrs. Ryan.
Mrs. Ryan’s three other sons had perished at war within days of each other, and she would receive news of their deaths on the same day.
A native of Uniontown, Pa. – another Pennsylvania connection for the record – General Marshall had decided that losing all four sons would be more than any mother should or could bear.
When he learns that the fourth son, Private James Francis Ryan, is missing in action in Normandy. orders that Ryan be found and sent home immediately.
In France, three days after D-Day, Captain Miller receives orders to find Ryan. After a strenuous journey, Captain Miller’s squad finds Ryan.
After a deadly firefight with the Germans, Captain Miller is mortally wounded. Gurgling blood, he manages to utter these final words to Private Ryan: "James, earn this… Earn it.”
Fast forward decades later to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy, France. Visiting the cemetery with his family, the elderly Private Ryan finds Captain Miller’s grave.
Trembling and filled with anxiety, Ryan turns to his wife.
Barely audible, he asks the following: "Have I led a good life? Am I a good man?"
Only you, like Private Ryan, can answer these questions.
These may be questions that can only be answered by a higher power or that are never answered by words.
Private Ryan never audibly answers his questions. Instead, his wife reassures him, and the wet-eyed Ryan salutes Miller’s grave.
Maybe that is how we best answer these tough questions – “Have we earned our freedom?” “Have we led good lives?” “Are we good citizens?” – by showing and practicing reverence, respect, honor and loyalty.
We may not be able to be heroes like Agnes Allison and her sons. But we can rise to bear our own crosses with grace under pressure. We can strive to perpetually answer Private Ryan’s enduring questions, “Have I led a good life?” and “Am I a good person?" And we can be true to Captain Miller’s charge to “earn this” with dignity, courage and honor.
We may not all be able to be heroes in epic battles or noble martyrs in grand causes. But we can be good foot soldiers and minute citizens of democracy and virtue. We can be grateful and appreciative; we can pay tribute and respect to our veterans. We can decorate the graves and salute the graves and the people who have gallantly served. We can say a simple “thank you” to all those who have served.
Baptized by their service and sacrifice, we also can be primed with newfound purpose to lead good, patriotic lives. We can give back. We can live by the Golden Rule. We can be responsible, kind and honorable. We can alleviate suffering and loneliness. We can help enlighten, empower and ennoble our loved ones, neighbors and those in need.
We can “earn this” freedom and earn this moment in history.
We can earn this blessed freedom that binds us and earn the greatness that is our promise.
I joined the United States Air Force in 1984 and served honorably until 1994, achieving the rank of E-6. Among my medals and citations, I received the National Defense Service Medal and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 2 devices.
C. Kim Bracey is mayor of York, Pennsylvania
Ping.
Thanks for posting this, so apropos to today.
The City of York is a deep blue enclave in an otherwise deep red County.
With closed primaries, City voters have a tough choice...register “D” to vote for city offices or “R” for county offices. This year both were on the ballot, and the races are essentially decided in the primary.
During my time in the US Navy, I was privileged to live one of these tales where the survivors did, in fact ‘earn this’.
Eddie was born in Staten Island, NY in 1931. When he was 11, in 1942, his father was killed while serving as First Engineer in a merchant ship, which was torpedoed and sank near Cuba.
His mother moved to Audubon, NJ, where Eddie graduated from high school and joined the Navy as a Corpsman.
On July 21, 1952, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Korea, where he was attached to E Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
Eddie was killed in action on September 5, 1952, while saving the lives of two wounded Marines he was aiding in a crater; as he crawled in from one side, two enemy hand grenades came in from the other side. The 21 year old scooped up the two grenades and leapt out the other side, destroying a Chinese advance. This happened at “Outpost Bruce” which was held by Marines of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines during the battle of “Bunker Hill” (September 5–15, 1952).
Eddie was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
This could have been the end of the story - except for the two Marines who had been saved by Eddie.
They never forgot, and one began a 40 year crusade to have a Navy ship named for young Eddie.
His tireless efforts were rewarded when the Arleigh Burke Destroyer, hull number 65 - the USS Edward Benfold - began construction in 1993.
The two Marines gathered often to participate in memorials for Eddie over the decades. Sadly, they left us just a couple of years ago, but they lived a total of 122 years, 10 months after having watched two grenades land at their feet in that crater on Bunker Hill.
There are now a total of 31 children, grandchildren and great grand children who wouldn’t be alive today had Eddie not been there.
Every Memorial Day, I know for a fact there are dozens of members of two different families giving thanks for a 21 year old Navy Corpsman, who left behind a young wife and a four month old son. Mike and Eddie - the two Marines - they definitely ‘earned it’.
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