"The most significant threat to our national security is our debt," Admiral Michael Mullen, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, August 27, 2010


Monday, May 26, 2014

In Memoriam

Today is the day of recognition and appreciation.

Whenever America has needed to defend itself, young Americans have arrived.
Wherever America’s allies needed to defend their territory and way of life, young Americans have arrived.
Whenever the tyrant and all his followers needed to be exterminated, young Americans have arrived.
Literally by the hundreds of thousands young Americans have given their lives so that we who were not even born may pursue our lives with self direction tempered by respect for others.
Here is a picture of the American cemetery outside Manila in the Philippines.


This picture does not capture the moment of arrival at the entry to the cemetery and the vision of endless markers for the American dead – as far as the eye and mind can grasp in total view. 
We honor these dead warriors even as we know that more will also need to serve – to arrive – to defend – to fight – to die.  Their gift has been and will be their life for our future.  They gave us today and tomorrow.  We honor them this one day though we owe them every day.

 

 

 

1 comment:

PATRICK FLYNN said...

I was talking with two 19 yr. old college students yesterday. The subject drifted to Memorial Day and what it meant. Sadly, neither of these your women had any idea what was the significance of Memorial Day. Upon further discussion, they did not know of its' origins out of the Civil War, they didn't even know who the opposing sides were in that bloody conflict. Worse, they could not even tell me who won WWII or who the opponents were.

Anybody else think the republic is in trouble?