Sunday, July 04, 2010

Patriotism before a paycheck

The 'littlest big man on the field.'

As we sit down to feast and relaxation on this day........ remember them.

Remember that this is a day of not just a day of celebration but it is also a day of remembrance. This is a day when we should all take a long look back at those who have gone before us and paid the price and the regular installments on our freedom. Those that have gone on before us.

These payments were made long ago at places like Concord and Lexington, then again at Antietam and Gettysburg. Once more at Bella Wood and on the cold sands of Normandy and on the black sands of Iwo Jima.

More payments still at the frozen Chosin and while sweltering in Khe San. And in innumerable unnamed villages across both Korea and Vietnam. And too today....we again make payments on an account that never ceases or is ever marked paid in full.

They make those payments today in more of those strange and far away places with even stranger sounding names. These new places of debt collection are in Iraq and Afghanistan. Places where other brave and patriotic souls continue to lay down their lives and the grim reaper continues to take their bets and mounts the odds against them.

So just remember.....There are many little big men and women who have gone before you and paid what was owed on a never ending account. There are many others who continue today, to walk up to that table of life and stare down the dealer of death, while wagering their lives for yours.

So that you and I would be able to enjoy days like today. And all that is asked of those who have laid so precious a gift on the alter of freedom?

Is that we remember them and the sacrifices that they have made for us.

So remember and honor them.....it's the least we can do.

Pat Tillman remembered.

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