Anywhere there was troops Bob Hope was there for us.
He sure wasn't a stranger to enemy live fire.
To live in the hearts of
those we leave behind
is not to die .......
Posted on 05/30/2004 5:38:27 PM PDT by redrock
You put on the uniform.....and you do so of your own Free will.
You put on the uniform ...be it that of the Army...or Navy...or Air Force...or Marine...or Coast Guard.
And you do so with the understanding of some very simple promises.
YOU promise to uphold the Constitution....
YOU promise to help defend your Nation ...your family...in every which way that you are asked.
YOU promise to put up with doing duty in the coldest places...and the hottest. YOU promise to put up with bad food sometimes. YOU promise to follow orders (as long as they are lawful)..even tho those orders may put you in danger...in 'Harm's Way'.
YOU promise to put your life on the line...even unto death.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And the Nation promises that they will provide you with shelter....with uniforms.....with food...with even a little money.
And the Nation promises that they will make sure that you are taken care of if you are wounded....or are permanently disabled.
And the Nation PROMISES that they will Remember you should you die...should you pay the ultimate price...should you be brought Home to your family in a box.
....and tomorrow is the day....the very day...that will decide if the Nation has told the truth or it has lied.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's a simple thing.....Memorial Day.
Just ONE day...set aside for a real reason....to Remember those who have died....been brought home in a box....to fulfill THEIR promise.
Just ONE day....set aside for a REAL reason....to Honour those who have fallen in the defense of Freedom.....to Honour those who have fallen in the defense of their Nation and their Families...your Families.
It is NOT a day for barbecue.....
It is NOT a day for 'Memorial Day Sales'.....
It is NOT a day for extra overtime......
It IS a day to Remember...and say 'Thank You'.
It IS a day to Remember...that YOUR Freedom is paid for in the blood of America's sons...it is paid for in the returning of Fathers to their children in a box.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
Perhaps the real measure of our success as a Nation (and how long we will last ) is how well we Honour those who have provided this Freedom.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
Or, perhaps, tomorrow is the day of Betrayal.
I'm starting a collection of the Memorial Day threads by redrock.
I'll ping you when the new one is posted.
This way you'll have the whole collection also.
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread One--"Discussions With a One-Legged Man"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1141564/posts
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Two--"My Daddy's Finally Home..."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1142082/posts
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Three--"The Bodybags of Afghanistan and Iraq"--(Roger's Story)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1142776/posts
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Four--"Welcome Home"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1143426/posts
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Five--"The Luckiest Boy in the World"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1144225/posts
MEMORIAL DAY--Thread Six--"The Betrayal of the American Soldier"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1144923/posts
Anywhere there was troops Bob Hope was there for us.
He sure wasn't a stranger to enemy live fire.
To live in the hearts of
those we leave behind
is not to die .......
Thank you all for serving. I can't say anymore than that.
Ref: my tag line.
redrock
Our local newspaper gave what I might otherwise think was a proper tribute today. It listed the names of every soldier lost...in Iraq. There was no corresponding listing for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. I have submitted the following email letter to the Winston-Salem Journal editor, but I fear that it will not be printed, as I just had a letter printed last week on the ABC Nightline show that did a similar stunt. Here is my email. Perhaps someone from North Carolina might send this letter to the Journal (letters@wsjournal.com) in hopes that it will be printed. You may also adapt it if your leftist paper did the same thing.....
The Journal made fitting tribute to our fallen soldiers in the Iraq theater of operations in its May 30 edition, on the eve of Memorial Day, by listing each individual's name, rank, branch of service, age and circumstances of death. This is as it should be at a time of solemn remembrance and thankfulness for the ultimate sacrifice given by those who volunteered to serve. We are, however, engaged in a continuing conflict in Afghanistan, not yet completed, which began before Iraq, and which has cost the lives of U.S. soldiers, some of whose lives were laid down as recently as May 29. Why were these brave souls not included in the long list of lives lost? Are their lives less precious? Do their families grieve less? Was their service less honorable than that of those lost in Iraq? My prayer is that this was but an oversight on the part of the Journal and the Associated Press. My fear is that this was a conscious omission intended to highlight the loss of life in a war that some oppose; and that to include the names of those lost in Afghanistan, a conflict overwhelmingly supported by America would dilute the intended point of the list, not to honor the war dead, but to protest the war in Iraq. Please assure your readers that this was not the case--if you can.
redrock
Perfectly to the point.
redrock
May G-d bless all our brave veterans.
redrock
Red, thanks. I have no pride in authorship for this letter. Any Freeper may use it as his/her own. I just want the sentiment to get out.
redrock
redrock
Excellent letter!
American would not be what it is today without our military. If we fail to remember . . . and fail to fulfill our promises to our veteran's and troops, we will fail to achieve our purpose. If we fail our purpose, we would have failed the rest of the world by destroying the hope for freedom and liberty all nations desire. America is the model.
bump
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