The patriots blood is the seed of Freedoms tree. ~ Thomas Campbell
by Tina Grazier
Post Scripts recently received a comment from Joe Repya, Memorial Day – Im Tired, in which Joe lamented the state of his nation upon his return from Iraq:
I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam Maybe it’s because I’ll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I’m tired
I spent this Memorial Day pondering Joes words. I wondered what would have made Joes return from Iraq a more pleasing or positive experiencewhat would have made him feel good about the country he obviously loves so much. And finally I wondered, what could be done to truly honor those who have given so much in service to our country.
The parades and memorial celebrations we have each year are one way to show our appreciation and respect…they serve to remind us of the sacrifice thats been made. Flying the American flag is a patriotic gesture that honors those who have died to make us free. Being a volunteer and donating to veterans causes, visiting the wounded in military hospitals, and offering condolences and a helping hand to military families are others ways to participate and show appreciation.
We can speak up when we are offended by disrespect that’s shown to returning military personnel, at our local recruiting stations, and toward our President, the Commander-in Chief. All of these things are ways to show honor to our fallen warriors. But at the end of the day, the best way to offer our deepest respect to these brave men and women is to make certain that the ideals and values of our nation are cherished, preserved and passed along to future generations. Unless we do this one important thing the rest will be for naught.
Please visit AmericanHeritageFoundation.org for educational information and inspiration and never forgetlearning begins at home:
America is in such significant social, cultural, philosophical, governmental, and educational decline that, if continued unabated, it will result in the death of the country. ** Unlike countries governed by the sword under dictatorship or state controlled systems, America was formed and built on the ideas and ideals of Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility–themes that originate in our Declaration of Independence, U. S. Constitution, and other primary documents and in philosophical ideas and ideals commonly grounded in the study of Western Civilization and Judeo-Christian values. ** A nation built on these ideas and theories cannot possibly survive if those same philosophical and historical principles are not studied, taught, learned, practiced, and reinforced in our schools and institutions attended by the next generation of young people.
Thank you Joe, once again, for your service and for reminding us that a nation worth dying for is also worth preserving.
“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Abraham Lincoln