valhalla.mee.nu

May 28, 2007

Unknown Soldiers

Heroes are the stuff of legends and myths. But then again, they are not mythical at all. Every one of us, as mundane as we are, as down to Earth as we are, has the capacity for true heroism. Sometimes we are so busy talking about the legendary kind, that we forget the Earthly heroes. They are 'Unknown' soldiers.

Mom's and Dad's, teachers, doctors, firefighters, police, and US Marines. It doesn't really matter what job description you have. It matters what your heart tells you to do when it's 'Crunch Time'. Heroes do the right thing. When it is hard to do it. When it matters most. Even when it hurts!

We have had so many American heroes. The attempt to catagorize all the kinds of heroism performed by Americans, is itself, to much of a task for me. A lot of time, heroes die. Those are the ones that hurt our hearts.

The everday acts of heroism can be repeated, and do a lot of lasting good. But some acts of heroism are once in a lifetime ... literally. Whatever good is accomplished has to be weighed against the loss of the one who put thier life on the line to see that good upheld. When the hero is close to us ... a family member or friend, then it quite often exceeds our mortal capacity to cope. How do you find it inside yourself to say a deed was good, and lasting, if your overwhelmed by the pain of losing a Son, or Daughter ... a Mother, or Father ... a Husband or Wife?!

We lose heroes all the time, and those who live on to remember them, need to be heroic in dealing with thier loss. Because the empty place at the table hits you every day, you need to be heroic every day to deal with it. When a child asks when the missing parent is coming home, it takes a special kind of heroism to find the answer. On a daily basis.

America has been at odds with evil forces before, and will be again. For as long as we uphold our standards of Liberty and Justice, handed down to us through the heroism of our Founders, then despots, and fanatics will oppose the hope we represent. They will oppose the American Dream. And to be absolutely clear, the American Dream is about people being free to make a life for themselves AS THEY WILL! It isn't some materialistic vision about staying ahead of the Jones's. Despots and fanatics don't usually mind if you have stuff, as long as you are totally submissive and obedient.

The despots and fanatics DO MIND that somewhere in the world, people can speak, worship, associate with who-ever, and pursue happiness without thier express permission. It drives them crazy! Our example, our DREAM, drive them insane! So it comes to pass that they seek ways to strike at us, and so we are forever at war with this kind of evil, even when we think it's gotten quiet, and peaceful. While you sleep, your fellow citizens ... heroes, stand guard. Some of them will die for you.

Honor that sacrifice, with some heroism of your own. Honor what they lived to uphold, and what they died for. Never let what they died to accomplish fade, or fall into ruin. What they saved for future generations, it now falls to us to guard.

To all Americans who fought the good fight, and to thier families, I offer my sincerest gratitude. Thank you for the future. Thank you for everything!

In memory ...

http://www.2ndbn5thmarines.com/pictures/2_5/vietnam_memorial-tb.html

http://bcpinne.homeip.net/pictures/Grandpa's%20DC%20Trip/Korean%20War%20Memorial%202.jpg

http://neatitems.com/No_Worries/images/USS_Arizona_Memorial_-_sunk_Dec_7_1941.JPG

http://bcpinne.homeip.net/pictures/Grandpa's%20DC%20Trip/WWII%20Memorial%20(Day)%2003.jpg

http://www.members.mva.net/galaca/p55ww1.html

http://www.gb1863.com/2202.JPG

http://home.gwi.net/%7Enmooney/images/lincoln_memorial.jpg

http://www.mehras.net/usa_pages/08_14_philadelphia/v_philly_liberty_bell_1.JPG

http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/

http://www.captain-america.us/images/wallpaper/ww2/infamy.jpg

God Bless America! USA, all the way!