There is something immeasurably profound about a military man
and woman in uniform, choosing to make the sacrifice - to leave their newborn,
to leave their family, to leave their spouse or loved ones behind in order to
protect our freedoms and try to ensure freedom for others around the world. It
is not perfect. War is ugly. It is raw. But, sadly, in the face of dictators
and malevolent rulers who crush their
countrymen under foot for the thrill of power and of the extremists who hate
our way of life and wish to crush us under the weight of their malignant
hatred, it is necessary. Not only to protect others, but to protect this land
we call home.
Our country asks
great things from our service men and women. Sometimes what is asked for is the
ultimate sacrifice. On this Memorial Day, and every other, I am proud to honor
those who answered that call. I have friends and loved ones serving in the military.
I have friends and loved ones who have lost those serving. When a soldier loses
their life for the ideals which they hold dear, thinking of the ones back home
which they are leaving behind and trying to protect, there should be no protest
at their funerals. No slurs hurled at their memory of at their loved ones. No
words of ignorance posted. In death there should be no partisanship. There
should be a coming together and honoring of their sacrifice...regardless of how
you feel about war. It is the honorable thing to do. It is the right thing to
do.
It is sad that for
many in America today that Memorial Day is just another day to be off of work
and BBQ and drink beer instead of being a day to remember those who have given
the ultimate sacrifice of their lives so that they can have the right to have
BBQ and beer.
IT IS THE SOLDIER
It is the Soldier,
not the minister
Who has given us
freedom of religion.
It is the Soldier,
not the reporter
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Soldier,
not the poet
Who has given us
freedom of speech.
It is the Soldier,
not the campus organizer
Who has given us
freedom to protest.
It is the Soldier,
not the lawyer
Who has given us the
right to a fair trial.
It is the Soldier,
not the politician
Who has given us the
right to vote.
It is the Soldier who
salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath
the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the
protester to burn the flag.
~ Charles M. Province
For all of my friends and loved ones who have served, are serving, who have lost those to the ugly affair of war...I salute and honor you and them, today and always.
God bless and keep you, and comfort those who mourn.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ~ John 15:13
THANK YOU!
