Remember The Fallen
By Doug Hagin (05/27/03)
Memorial Day 2003, is passed into history and how did you honor our heroes who laid their lives down to defend your freedom?
Did you lay flowers or place a flag on a serviceman’s grave? Maybe you whispered a silent prayer of thanks to God above for these heroes. Perhaps you donated time or money to a veteran’s group. Perhaps you visited one of the many Memorial Day events across America. Or perhaps you stood on wonder and awe in a military cemetery while contemplating just how precious and expensive our freedom truly is. However you chose to pay homage to the tens of thousands of men and women who died for our nation, I am sure they would thank you.
In fact this year’s Memorial Day likely was witness to more tears of thanks and gratitude than those in recent past. After all, we are at war, and some of those military graves are all too fresh, the tears of the fallen’s loved ones still moistening the soil of their final resting place.
However we remembered our heroes, we should realize there is no price too high for them. Every white headstone marking the resting place of a fallen sailor, soldier, or airman is another reminder of just how true the old saying “freedom is not free” really is.
There was no price too high for these brave soldiers to protect our nation and our freedoms. They all knew the risk of their duty. Yet they all stepped forward and did that duty. And their sacrifice is something we can never ever repay by simply remembering them one day out of the year.
No our debt to their memories and deeds go much deeper than that. We must support our troops who are now doing the very same duty. They are also risking their lives in defense of America, and deserve our thanks and undying support, as do all those veterans who have waged war on our behalf.
Truth be told, everything we do here is not possible without these soldiers. Our way of life in America is due to the greatness of our people, and the willingness of our troops to defend this land. To be certain there would be no America at all without the gallantry of our armed forces.
Go back to 1775 and the war which birthed our nation and liberty. All the dreams and visions of our Founding Fathers would have mattered not without the men who picked up their muskets and defeated the British Army.
Imagine this, no Constitution, no guaranteed liberties, no right to speak your mind, our attend the church of your choice, no right to security and self-defense, no protection from illegal searches. Imagine that scenario because without the troops under Washington we would be living that reality.
Imagine if we had no troops willing to fight the British again in 1812. Instead of America growing into the world’s greatest nation on earth, it would have become a historical footnote. Think of just how different our lives and the world would be today.
Think of how this world would have suffered had America not gone into World War 2. How many more would have died stopping the madness of Hitler? How many more would have suffered? Surely all of Europe should be remembering our fallen as well. Perhaps the French leaders should take a stroll through the many American graves in their nation and rethink their pompous attitude.
Think for a moment of how South Korea would be if not for America’s soldiers. Think of the evil dictator in north Korea inflicting his terror upon those South Koreans.
Finally think of those children imprisoned in Iraq who are now free. Think of the terror Saddam Hussein visited upon the Iraqi people. Think of the rapes, murders, torture, and suffering now ended because of our armed forces.
To be sure every war since has shaped our nation and the world as well. And all of this is due to the courage and conviction of our military. And let us never forget not only the sacrifices of the soldiers but of their families as well.
Mothers and fathers, brothers, and sisters, sons, and daughters, wives and husbands have lost their loved ones and also deserve our eternal gratitude. Many reading this know that pain and loss all too well. For those who have given some of themselves for this country let me say thank you and God bless you. This nation owes it’s very existence to your loved ones who gave their lives for it.
So how did you honor our soldiers on Memorial Day? More importantly how will you choose to honor and support them now, today, and tomorrow?
Let us resolve here and now to make sure to give thanks each and every day for the men and women who have given their lives, those who risked their lives and those who continue to do so today.
Nothing would mean more to them, and their memories.
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