Col. Wilhite offers living definition of 'patriotism'

Students attending Sequoyah Elementary School learn a new character-building word each month. The word of the month for May is "patriotism."

Students had an opportunity to celebrate patriotism during their Sunshine Assembly Monday, which was officially dubbed "Col. Wilhite Day." Special guest for the event was U.S. Army Col. James Wilhite, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Wilhite's wife, Emily, is a special education teacher at the school.

Wilhite, Sequoyah students, faculty and parents were greeted by Cathy Couch's pre-kindergarten class, which led the group the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the pledge to the state flag. The class then recited the preamble to the Constitution and Sequoyah School Creed. The group told the audience the word of the month, patriotism, and sang "God Bless America."

Karla Boals, mother of pre-kindergartner C.J. Boals, 5, was impressed with what the group had learned.

"This is such a great school," said Boals. "I'm always dumbfounded by what my son has learned from his teacher and Dr. [Tom] Barlow [school principal]."

The fourth-graders took the stage to welcome Wilhite by reciting the Gettysburg Address.

"You all know Monday is Memorial Day," said Barlow. "It's a great time to spend with your family, and many of your parents will get to stay home from work. Some of you will barbecue hamburgers and hot dogs. Some of you will go to the lake or river. Please remember, though, the reason for Memorial Day is to celebrate the men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom by giving their lives for our country."

"Our special guest today is a good human being and a great educator," said Barlow. "Col. James Wilhite signed the paper saying he will give his life, if that's what's necessary, to keep us free. There is no greater love than that."

"Your tribute to patriotism was quite appropriate," said Wilhite. "You see how I have my hand over my heart right now? In Afghanistan, this is a sign of respect. If I were to cross both hands over my chest, like this, it would be a display of great respect. To you, children, I say 'Tashakur,' which is Dari for 'Thank you.'"

"One year ago tomorrow, I found out I was being deployed to Afghanistan," said Wilhite. "I had been in Fort Benning [Ga.] for a while, knowing that I would be going somewhere. I found out one year ago tomorrow, and I left two days later."

"Right there, on the left side of the room, is the real hero her today," said Wilhite. "She's my wife and one of your teachers, Mrs. Wilhite. She had no idea how long I would be gone or when I would come back. She also took care of business here at home, with no military support group to fall back on."

Wilhite let the children know how grateful he is - and how lucky they are - to live in this country.

"When I arrived in Afghanistan, I thought I was at the end of the world," said Wilhite. "You should appreciate what you have here, because those people truly have nothing - no electricity, no running water, nothing."

Wilhite's mission was to create a military academy in Afghanistan, using the model of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He had one year in which to complete his assignment.

"I was to design, build and implement a school, recruiting the top 1 percent of Afghani men as cadets," said Wilhite. "I was there for one year, and I can come home and honestly say 'mission accomplished.' I have been called 'baba' by my students, which is Dari for 'father.' It was a great honor."

Wilhite then relied on the students' knowledge of popular culture to stress his feeling of accomplishment.

"You guys know the comedy guy who says 'Git 'er done,' don't you?" he asked, referring to the comedian known as "Larry the Cable Guy."

"Well, I just got back from being presented an award at West Point," said Wilhite. "I was presented with a beautiful military saber, and on the blade was an inscription reading 'Got 'er done.' It was a tremendous honor."

"By the time our academy opened, we had recruited 106 students," said Wilhite. "These young men will finish their academy careers as engineers, political scientists and foreign language majors. I have no doubt in my mind that I shook the hands of future leaders because of the training they are receiving and the nature of the people themselves. They are a gracious, special people and true warriors."

"I need to tell you, in Afghanistan, having sons is more important than having daughters," said Wilhite. "I told the people there that I have two daughters at home, and 106 sons in Afghanistan. I promised the cadets at the academy I would return in four years to give the commencement address at their graduation."

I have been lucky enough to travel around the world both as an American tourist and American soldier. Some insights I have picked up along the way:

I can honestly say, most of the world loves America and Americans. Even the French. They admire our "can do attitude," our eternal optimism, our individual independence and our absolute fearlessness in taking on "city hall" and the powers in charge. They are also very grateful for our generosity. Americans are by far the most friendliest and giving people (individual and collectively) on the face of the planet. I could present statistic after statistic, but just ask any bartender or waitress in any remote town of any third world country who would they like as customers, and they will reply "Americans."

Our enemies, who I have also met and talked with, believe this optimism and generosity are a weakness. They feel that any country foolish enough to try to help other people (instead of crushing them) or permits dissenting points of view is weak. They feel our wealth (ironically made by extremely hard work) has made us soft and unwilling to fight very hard.

Our course, they do not know our military history and ignore our fighting traditions and legends. They do not understand that Americans do not really want to make war and want nothing to do with conquering the planet (too much paperwork). We would rather stay home with our families, enjoy life and go to work. But if we must fight, then we go all out; that we will kill our enemies as fast and as a numerously as humanly possible, that we will bring relentless devastation and carnage to our adversaries and not stop until they are either dead or have surrendered. We want to get the miserable job of war done as fast, efficiently and as brutally as possible so that we can go home.

Our enemies look at our military as the strength of machines. They feel if we did not have our wonderful helicopters, F-16's, Abrams Tanks, aircraft carriers, etc. that our soldiers would melt away. However, it is a rare event when an American soldier surrenders, even against overwhelming odds. The American soldier has slugged it out toe-to-toe with every enemy we have ever faced (even after all the wonder machines have broken down) and have always emerged the victor. This warrior spirit has been proven in regular army units, special op units and militia/National Guard units. It is not something that is taught, it is just always understood; that the soldiers of liberty and freedom will always defeat the soldiers of dictators and tyrants no matter what.

The men and women of the American Armed Forces understand that Freedom is not free. It has been purchased with a terrible price. American soldiers have suffered, bled and died under horrific conditions in dreadful places all across this hard world. Unlike most armies, Americans have put themselves in harm's way willingly. They fight not for treasure, glory or power but for an idea; that essential Liberty "shall not perish from the earth" as long as I can do something about it.

We should never take our liberty for granted. Since the dawn of humanity, tyrants have and will always try to gather more power by enslaving others. There is only one thing that they fear; when a free people look them in the eye and proclaim, "This we will defend."

By 2banana

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