THE MILITARY

“Have you ever stopped to ponder the amount of blood spilled, the volume of tears shed, the degree of pain and anguish endured, the number of noble men and women lost in battle so that we as individuals might have a say in governing our country? Honor the lives sacrificed for your freedoms.”

Richelle E. Goodrich

In the quote above, never have I seen such words collide as they have in the last few days. We recently faced one of the most frenetic elections ever held, followed by Veterans Day today. It has brought about an unusual rush of patriotism for me, and I think, many others in this nation.

Never mistake my intention--it is always to honor the ones who have gone to fight for the United States, for our Government, for ME. Yes, those capital letters might make me seem a tad egocentric, but right now it is only me in this particular home, my foxhole, so I am truly grateful for those who HAVE fought to make and keep me free, and for those who still stand ready to fight on my behalf and for our nation.

I have been so grateful that I chose to reach out and thank a couple of veterans for their service. Coincidentally both of these men are Marines--SEMPER FI! One is a dear friend, the other person I contacted was a neighbor when I was much younger. But through the years I have just plain "adopted" him and his 5 brothers and never let them go. (See a previous post, THE BROTHERS, for that back story.)

As their ages dictated only 3 of my brothers fought, but in a family of 6 boys that means 50% of them served, two of them serving in Nam. I always told them, and am still doing so, how much I love them for their bravery and willingness to serve our nation.

Then there's my father to honor for his service in WWII, along with his fellow veterans, and those who perished in war. My father died in 2003, but I often stop and think of him fighting for me, on the very chance that I might be born, when we was in the Army in the European theater. He is my grandest hero of all.

The men and women in our military who are willing to leave on a moment's notice to go to war if necessary--ALL deserve our gratitude. Take some time to think of them today and pray for them should any come in harm's way at any time.

HONOR our Military, pray fervently for them, and exercise the freedoms that many have died for. Pray for those lost in all wars. And continue to pray for those who are on standby at this very moment, ready to deploy if needed.

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I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.

Nelson Mandela