Posted on 05/25/2015 8:09:45 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax
Let us never forget those who gave their life for our freedoms.
Remembering the brave men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion for our freedoms requires us to take a moment on this Memorial Day to focus on the individuals behind the numbers and remember they are not just names on a wall.
One of those individuals who gave everything he had for us was Marine Captain John J. McKenna IV who was killed on August 16, 2006 during an operation in Fallujah, Iraq.
The story of John McKennas life and death is the story of a genuine American hero. Having had the great honor of spending a day with John J. McKenna III, the Captains father, I learned the story of how the McKenna family got the awful news of his death. It was a reminder that the heroes who step forward to defend us, come from Americas greatest asset: our families.
Captain McKenna lost his life trying to comfort one of his men, Lance Corporal Michael Glover. They were conducting an operation near Fallujah Iraq when Glover, who was the point man, was shot by a sniper. True to his nature as a great leader, McKenna wouldnt order anyone else to go out to help Glover; he went himself. Witnesses say John had Michael Glover cradled in his lap when he too was shot and killed by the same sniper.
A few days after Captain McKennas death, John III was in the familys old home in Brooklyn. They had recently sold it and he was taking one last look at the place where he and his wife Karen had raised John and his sister Allyson.
He was in Brooklyn for a final dental appointment and stopped at the house to make sure it was...
(Excerpt) Read more at coachisright.com ...
Wow. Spine tingling. Can only imagine what it’s like to open the door and see two military officers standing there knowing there’s only one reason for them to be there.
The greatest fear of any military family.
No doubt.
Obama and Hillary and their disastrous policies that enabled and empowered (and armed) the savages we are fighting are all bad enough, but the disgusting desertion and dereliction of duty regarding 4 Americans who were slaughtered in Benghazi will always make a difference to those of us who revere and honor the brave and selfless Warriors who serve to protect and defend us! The difference the preventable deaths of these courageous Americans makes is something they are unable to comprehend.
Take a listen to Marine and Purple Heart Recipient Nick Popoditch (who was there when Saddams statue was brought down in Baghdad) sum up the greatness of our military and the True Grit & Selfless Warriors who fill its ranks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoFvBXUamuM
Today, I will lower that beautiful flag that flies in my front yard and I will make sure my grandchildren know why our flag is lowered. We will gather and we will remember and give thanks to those who gave their lives to ensure we live freely to enjoy this beautiful and protected way of life they provided us.
It is the Soldier, who risks his life, who gives us our freedom!
So after today, I will not forget that fact and I will be sure to honor these brave Americans who are willing to die to give us this precious freedom: I will honor them by voting!
Unfortunately for our military and for all of us, there were those in 2012 (4 million, it is reported), who sat home and did not vote in one of the most important Presidential elections ever in the history of this great republic. Obama told us he would fundamentally change this country and he made a good start in his first 4 years and he made it clear he would continue down his path, if given another 4 years. Those 4 million who stayed home and didnt vote are the ones yelling the loudest now against all that Obama is doing! I hear some of these folks saying the same thing again, that if they dont get the pure candidate they want, they will stay home again. These folks run in Conservative circles so I have come to the conclusion they must be Marxists who have successfully infiltrated the conservative movement because surely, SURELY, nobody could be that naïve that they didnt believe Obama meant what he said back in 2012, and surely they would have now realized that staying home and not voting is a mistake?! Surely!!!
I challenge anyone of these folks to convince me that their decision to stay home and not vote was good for their family, our military and our country. Their decision, in my opinion, was a dereliction of their duty to their family, our military and our country. You see, along with our military, we have a duty too, and that is to engage in elections to help protect our freedom, our way of life, and most of all, to protect and support the very brave men and women who keep us safe and free! One thing is for certain, if you dont exercise your right to vote, you really have no room to complain. Unfortunately for the rest of us, and especially our military fighting in far off lands, we all suffer now the reckless and horrendous consequences of their dereliction of duty as American citizens!
Please, on this Memorial Day, remember our noble Heroes who have given their all and please make a commitment to honor our brave Warriors and the sacrifices they and their families make, by voting in future elections. At the very least, we owe them that!
AND with regard to those who wear the uniform of Blue:
May God Bless & Watch over our Police. Under this bizarre president and his dudes and dudettes administration, our brave men and women in Blue are now subject to the same restrictive rules of engagement that our military has been under. We all know how this will play out, Obama and his policies of appeasement toward all those who are evil will continue to costs precious American lives.
It is time for the Police to suffer the Blue Flu. Let those in Baltimore, Ferguson and Chiraq, who dont like the Police and resent their protection, let them defend their neighborhoods!
With a Grateful Heart for all those who put on a uniform everyday to protect and keep us safe, my family is forever grateful to all of you!
God Bless All Those Who Wear The Uniform To Protect and Keep us Safe, May God Bless & Watch YOU! On Memorial Day & Everyday, may we as a nation ALWAYS be grateful for those who gave their lives to keep us safe!
Freedom is not free, it is paid for by the sacrifice of brave Americans who love us so much they are willing to lay down their lives to protect us and keep us free!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK0T4pVHP28
With a Mothers Grateful Heart,
 Beverly Perlson
 The Band of Mothers
Post and run
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.