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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."
John Stuart Mill
Thanks for a timely and sobering reminder.
These fallen heroes....bless them for their sacrifice.
We must keep their memory alive.. in that way we will be assured that none will have served in vane
American = America, of course..
And the congress people swear to uphold the US not betray it to the enemy like many are doing.
They died as Americas born
Spilled blood as they stormed foreign shores
They fought in a frigid Korea
These men who have died in our wars
They drowned in a far away sea
And baked on a hot desert sand
They fought in some forsaken jungles
They marched through a hell called Bataan
On this
Memorial Day
its time to be grateful
its time that we say
Its proper and right that we honor them all
They had selflessly given their lives and had answered the call
So now, it is left in our charge
we know whats right and wrong
And we must be prepared for a fight
we must always be strong
Say a prayer for the sacrifice made
for heroes in our history
They fought with their last ounce of courage
they knew freedom never is free
My dad, all four uncles, were all combat vets of WWII, and all their friends were as well.
IT was just the way things were.
To them, heroism was an honor not always bestowed. Most true heros were very reluctant to be designated such. Rather, they saw their acclaimed heroism as their duty, which they were obligated to perform.
Todays use of the term 'hero' as with the issuance of the beret to all, simply diminishes the original value of each.And that is a real shame!
(Cheap attempt at a 'Bump'...)
redrock
Thank You for the relaying of the story...and thank you for your service.
America is a much better place with you in it.
redrock
I have never met a soldier..sailor or marine who wanted a Monument to their branch of the service or the war they were in.
Just a 'Thank You'...is all is ever asked.
redrock
redrock
Again, thanks.
There should be a nice Memorial Day ceremony at the California Veteran's Home in Yountville tomorrow. Stop by and talk to a Vet. They are usually more than happy to swap stories.
Yep ! Last Saturday would have been Bob Hope's 101st birthday, and JFK's 87th."Thanks For The Memory" as sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in:
The Big Broadcast of 1938. (Right Click and "Save Target as" to your computer. It's beautiful).
Bob Hope & Delores w/JFK, others 1962
Without fail, every Vet I know has appreciated the tours Bob Hope and his crew of volunteers did for us guys when we were in the field.
BTTT!!!!!!
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