Monday, May 28, 2007

some gave all..........





As we fire up the grills today and enjoy family and friends I challenge us all to remember those for whom this day began. For centuries man has engaged in battle. Since time began there has always been a group somewhere who took up arms to defend their own or others who could not do so for themselves. Today we remember those who undertook this duty for our nation, but did not live to return home. I am not ashamed to say that as Americans, we live in the greatest nation on this green earth. God smiles on this country and those who feel otherwise can go jump in a lake.
The Declaration of Independence and Constitution alike are documents inspired of God and we live under the protection of their great canopy today. Lets take today to enjoy our freedoms and remember those who stand watch and hoist that canopy for us.

There is the famous phrase "All gave some and some gave all..". We hear it now and then and most of us pay little attention. Today is the day we remember those who gave all. My grandfather fought in and was wounded in the invasion of Italy in WWII. He is with us today because our family is greatly blessed. There are those who fought alongside him who never made it back to their families. I once heard him talk about the horrors of war saying that since returning home he has thought "Why did I survive? Why is it that when I was injured that I came out OK yet there were so many others who never made it past 19 or 21 years of age and returned home dead." He told me once that he had a great friend in his unit from Tennessee. He said they fought together in North Africa and into Italy. After he was wounded, he was taken to a field hospital and then to Charleston, S.C. to recover. Once he had gained his bearings in Charleston, he says he went to great lengths to check on the status of his friend who was still fighting overseas. In the process of doing so, he discovered to his horror that his unit had gone on to spearhead an attack on a city held by the Nazis and was almost completely wiped out. The list of casualties included his friend. This caused him to wonder why he survived and why he wasn't dead with his friend. I know he is grateful that he is here with us today, but I understand why he has had concern in the past.

There are those who have gone on before who died for the cause of our freedom or for the freedom of another. I don't care what your politics are. Whether it's our freedom or the freedom of some other nation, it is still freedom. People say that our soldier are dying for nothing in Iraq, but I say that disrespects the fallen who went out and put their life on the line for the freedom of another. No soldier ever died for nothing as long as they believed in the cause for which they fought. Let us put partisan views aside today and remember those who will never make it home. For the sake of their memory and the honor of their families, let us join together this day in a moment of silence to remember those who have fallen. I know we've all seen this video clip of the soldier returning from Iraq and surprising his son. As a father of two boys, I know what it is to enjoy the love of your children. In my career I have had several instances where I thought that I might not have made it home to see them again. Luckily I'm still with my family, but as we watch this clip today, let's think of what it is like for all of those little boys and girls past and present who won't get to hug mommy or daddy again. Let's think that even though our soldiers fight for freedom right now in another country, they still fight and die for freedom. Let's honor them for their courage and sacrifice and let's think about what it means when we hear "some gave all".




In America you can go on the air and kid the politicians, and the politicians can go on the air and kid the people.

Please feel free to comment if the need strikes you.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. ."

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful words...
Thanks to all those who have served and currently serve.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your kind words. As a vet myself (Gulf War) I can say we do appreciate those who fought before us and who carry on the fight now. Semper Fi!

Anonymous said...

Good to see you back Wolf. And what a great way to remember all who served and serve today.
I was touched by the story of your G-father. Hope you will tell him thank you for me, although I don't know him. I live my life because of his and other's sacrifice. As far as I am concerned, I cannot thank them enough.

Laura said...

A beautiful post. The anecdote about your grandfather was very moving.

That clip of the little boy being reunited with his dad gets me every time. Something similar happened yesterday at the NASCAR race, they honored a military family, who didn't know that their relative was behind them on the infield, then they turned around and saw him. Very moving. The flip side is the photo posted at the Corner at NRO today, of the little boy receiving the flag at his father's funeral. That photo also gets me every time, thinking of him and all the other little boys and girls whose dads or moms won't ever come home.

Thank you,
Laura

Anonymous said...

Very well put and said. As a service member serving now, I only hope that I can look back and remember serving my country as one of the greatest honors that I have had to give. Life is precious in all aspects and soldiers put their life on the line to protect that which is sacred. We should always remember that.

Christian Lindke said...

Guys,

I was wondering if you wanted to do your "roundup" on my weekly BlogTalkRadio show, Geekerati?

Anonymous said...

...... Very well written!......

Anonymous said...

Great article.............I'm impressed that young people will carry on the truth about freedom costs something...........too bad Rosie doesn't read this...........Aunt Donna

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to say that I think you are so RIGHT ON when it comes to honoring our soldiers. Thank you.

What a video!

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin