My Tribute to Ronald Reagan, The Gipper

These are my feelings at the passing of a truly great American...one that history will show whose life and service to this nation we were all tremendously priveleged to have personally witnessed.

Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was simply the greatest President in my lifetime, and I believe the greatest President of the 1900's. Probably among the greatest three Presidents this nation has ever had.

He epitomized the traditional American spirit of positive, can-do attitude, reliance on fundamental moral principle eminating from faith in God, dedication to the principles of individual liberty and a commitment to the soveriegnty and independence of this great, free Republic we call the United States of America.

His foreign policy "brought down the wall" and curtailed one of the greatest menaces to freedom the world has ever known. Contrary to revisionist and liberals/marxists/socialists who would want to bestow some of that glory and honor on the likes of Gorby...the world knows...God knows...that it was Ronald Reagan and his drive and vision that ended that particular incarnation of the Evil Empire. History shall record it so.

His economic policy turned the misery index into a boom for American industry and into personal opportunities for growth for the individual American citizen. I lived through Carter's misery index, having gotten married as a young 22 year old during that disasterous administration...and having grown up seeing the Rockafeller Republican mechanisms before Reagan...I personally saw and lived through the unbelievable difference Ronald Reagan made.

We were proud of our nation, proud of ourselves, proud of the flag and proud to be called American citizens under Ronald Reagan. His enthusiasm was contaiguos...his optimism was inspriring and his ability to communicate and get even many who did not initially agree with him to come around to the "American" way of thinking was legend.

In some ways I feel as though a sterling light, a great shining beacon on a hill has gone out...even though his administration ended years ago.

Despite that, his influence has remained...and it is now up to us to ensure it continues.

We have several challenges in our time...the great challenge of terrorism based on Islamofascism and the even worse evil (IMHO) of one of its chief abettors and manipulators for its use against America...another evil empire in our time, the Red Chinese and those globalists who are enabling them. We also have the even more insidious challenge of the continued encroachment on personal liberty, on our national soveriegnty and independence that many enemies and sappers amongst us, within our own perimeter, us continue to foist on our Republic. They do it under many names, in the name of the UN, NGO's, globalism, choice for death, so called third ways that are nothing more or less that the way of tyrants past and present, Environmentalism, sustainable habitats that are in reality controlled habitats...and the list goes on and on. I pray we can follow in Reagan's footsteps and resolutely meet these challenge head-on as the Gipper did.

I've been out all day, enjoying a Saturday afternoon with my wife and kids, I've been away from all modes of media all day.

But I knew what the news would be once we arrived back home, and now...oh my God...

I have no words Jeff, so I'll just quote President Reagan, from a speech delivered twenty years ago tomorrow, standing on the sands of Omaha Beach, and when my sons, who right now only understand that Daddy is sad, and that's why there are tears in his eyes, ask me "who was Ronald Reagan?", I'll tell them Jeff, with every bit of my heart I'll tell them that he was the greatest man to serve America in my lifetime, and I will repeat his words of that day on the sand of Omaha Beach, they will be my pledge to the Gipper, to my sons, and to us all:

"We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free."

God Bless you Mr President, rest easy now, we will carry on, and may God continue to bless America.

Thanks so much, I will add that one to the very end of my REAGAN QUOTES on the original tribute page at my own web site...here they are:

RONALD REAGAN QUOTES:

I know here that you will agree with me that standing up for America also means standing up for the God who has so blessed our land. I believe this country hungers for a spiritual revival. I believe it longs to see traditional values reflected in public policy again. To those who cite the first amendment as reason for excluding God from more and more of our institutions and everyday life, may I just say: The first amendment of the Constitution was not written to protect the people of this country from religious values; it was written to protect religious values from government tyranny.
Only when the human spirit can worship, create, and build, only when people are given a personal stake in determining their own destiny and benefiting from their own risks, do societies become prosperous, progressive, dynamic, and free.
No arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
It is time, indeed, to do more than just talk of a better world. It is time to act. And we will act when nations cease to try to impose their ways upon others. And we will act when they realize that we, for whom the achievement of freedom has come dear, will do what we must to preserve it from assault.
It is time for us to realize that we are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I Do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.
Let it be said of us that we, too, did not fail; that we, too, worked together to bring America through difficult times. Let us so conduct ourselves that two centuries from now, another Congress and another President, meeting in this Chamber as we are meeting, will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them in their day the sacred flame of liberty -- this last, best hope of man on Earth.
Faith in God, patriotism, freedom, the love of freedom, family, work, neighborhood -- the heart and soul of America's past and the promise of her future. If we stand together and live up to these principles, we will not fail.
I’ve always believed that this land was set aside in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this great continent between the oceans to be found by a people from every corner of the earth who had a special love of faith, freedom and peace.
Yes, we Americans have our disagreements, sometimes noisy ones, almost always in public -- that's the nature of our open society--but no foreign power should mistake disagreement for disunity. Those who are tempted to do so should reflect on our national character and our history--a history littered with the wreckage of regimes who made the mistake of underestimating the vigor and will of the American people.
Millions have gone before us, And millions will come behind,
So why do we curse and fight, At a fate both wise and kind?
You and I are told we must choose between a left or right, but I suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down. Up to man's age-old dream — the maximum of individual freedom consistent with order — or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. Regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would sacrifice freedom for security have embarked on this downward path. Plutarch warned, "The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits."
We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all. And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that day may be, I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.

Here is something EVERY AMERICAN should know.

TAPS

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" ... used at military funerals was born. The words are ..

Day is done ... Gone the sun .. From the lakes ... From the hills
... From the sky .. All is well .. Safely rest .. God is nigh .

Fading light .. Dims the sight ... And a star ... Gems the sky .
Gleaming bright .. From afar ... Drawing nigh ... Falls the night ..

Thanks and praise ... For our days ... Neath the sun .. Neath the stars
... Neath the sky ... As we go ... This we know .. God is nigh ...

I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.

Thank you for this post, Jeff. As usual you do get to the heart of matters.

I posted the following prayer on the troop prayer threads, but would like to place it on your thread as well.

Our Blessed Father,

Today you have seen fit to call home to you our former and very well-loved President, Ronald Reagan.

Father, this man appeared to many of us to be devoted to doing your Will and pursuing your Vision. He had a warmth and humor which was as infectious as it was comforting after a period of stress and upheaval. One of the first things accomplished by his strength was the release of the Iranian hostages. Father, we are still grateful for your protecting arm upon those people during that horrible time.

We saw this man wounded by a would-be assassin's bullet. You answered our prayers to protect and preserve his life. Father, thank you for not calling him home at that time, for we still needed him.

You guided him during those years of confrontation with the Soviet Union. Your Spirit moved upon him, and he spoke the simple yet stark words, "TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" You gave him the keys and the strategies to cause this to happen. The Wall came down.

Father, there are so many memories of this one who was our Commander In Chief. Many of us growing up in the 50's and 60's have fond memories of his television program "Death Valley Days." We still laugh and appreciate some of the madcap comedies he played in. We STILL refer to him as the "Gipper" from his portrayal of that football legend. We gasped in amazement in those pre-Rush Limbaugh days, at hearing his voice of reason coming from our radios. We were amazed to see this simple actor climb the political ladder with such success, from President of the Screen Actors Guild, to Governor of California, to President.

We have grieved with him and his family upon learning that he was struck down with Alzheimers. Father, we are grateful that the suffering is ended. He and his family have extended a blessed hand of assistance to the many thousands of us dealing with that disease by being open and providing such helpful role models. Their openness has been the impetus for much of the recent research and breakthroughs which are taking place now. We grieve now for the final loss of his presence among us. We ask that you will enfold and comfort his family and those closest to him.

Comfort, Father, this entire nation who feels this loss keenly. We ask also that as we meditate upon and celebrate his life, that we may be granted as a people a strong reminder of the lessons he had to teach.

Let us remember that when we see evil, not only is it ok, but it is actually required that we name it for what it is. Help us to remember that real courage is taking ahold of your divine Vision and not allowing any distractions tear us from our course. Help us to remember that when we start something, we must finish it.

If it is at all in accordance to thy Will and and Law, and if you call him to do so, please let him work with our current leaders in some way by somehow sharing his wisdom with them.

Father, we commend into your keeping, with great gratitude our own President Ronald Reagan. We are grateful that your moving finger wrote and he was the man for his time.

amen

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