We Venerate our Fallen Soldiers

I received this in an email chain letter which I usually delete straight away. I will not forward chain letters and the only way I could reconcile this tenet was to post it here. I truly venerate our fallen soldiers and wanted to pass this along. I could not post yestersay as some days have a significant burden upon me.

The author is anonymous.




It is the VETERAN

not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion

It is the VETERAN

not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press

It is the VETERAN

not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech

It is the VETERAN,

not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble

It is the VETERAN

not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial

It is the VETERAN

not the politician,

who has given us the right to vote




It is the VETERAN who salutes the Flag



ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

We can be very proud of our men and women in the service no matter where they serve.

God Bless them all!!!

This is What I Thought to Say as He Walked Away

As some of you may know, I attend college at the University of Louisville. I park my car at the stadium parking lot and have to ride the bus to classes and back. When I climbed on the bus, in front of me I noticed a young man that had a Marine lanyard hanging out of his pocket. I wanted to tell him welcome home brother...But, I did not do so. Instantly my mind went to what I would say if he said his brother or sister was a marine...



This is what I thought to say as he walked away...

To all who lost a brother, sister, mother, father, son or daughter. Thank you for your sacrifice. Your continued devotion is not a hallow loss. You sustain their honor, to carry the torch of service to this great nation. By doing so you illuminate their enduring service to this country.

Your servicemember died for a cause they once believed. Carry this cause for they have laid down their lives so that you may battle on.

I will never forget you.

National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day

Yesterday was proclaimed to be National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, by our new and honorable President Barack Obama. May God bless their hearts, souls and troubled minds, for I know that I could never completely understand what they face in pursue of daily activities since their captivity. Your continuing sacrifices have finally been recognised as a tribute to your fortitude and resilience. I will never forget.




NATIONAL FORMER PRISONER OF WAR RECOGNITION DAY, 2009

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and sacrifice that define our men and women in uniform. These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom, and our Nation will be forever in their debt. Today we honor all prisoners of war by recognizing the tremendous sacrifices made and the hardships endured by those who fight for our freedom.

American prisoners of war have experienced extreme conditions across the world and many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Sixty-seven years ago, in the midst of World War II, nearly 12,000 Americans and 76,000 Filipinos were captured while defending positions on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines. As prisoners of war, they endured the Bataan Death March, suffering starvation, torture, and unspeakable conditions. Thousands were randomly executed and many perished on this journey. During the Korean War, more than 1,600 Americans died under grave conditions at the Pyok Tong camp. In Vietnam's Hoa Lo Prison — the infamous Hanoi Hilton — Americans endured torture and other forms of inhumane treatment.

There are countless tales of the bravery of American prisoners of war — of the burdens borne, of the acts of heroism. These individuals have made great sacrifices and have demonstrated an enduring faith in themselves and in the United States. Their commitment calls out to all Americans to live up to our Nation's highest ideals and to serve our fellow citizens with equal selflessness and honor. We will never forget their sacrifices. Their spirit of service will inspire the American people for generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2009, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, and I urge all Americans to observe this day of remembrance with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

A Soldier and Child

The reality of war has this child at the heart of the matter and oblivious to the meaning of why daddy will never come home.

How many sons and daughters have this same dilemma in their young lives? Where does laying soldiers to rest leave their families? Why do we ignore these questions?

How do we answer, "When is daddy/mommy coming home?"

Forgive Me

I have been searching all over the web looking for like minded people to link this site to theirs. I came across this photograph shot by Zoriah, an independent embedded photojournalist, while in Iraq. The monochrome image embodies the deep sense of sorrow and duty that I was trying to convey in part of my last post.

Taking another's life in the name of freedom, patriotism and because of your job description profoundly changes the person. How do we reconcile the killing of another human being and still maintain our principles and values? Someone who has not done so can talk all they want about what they think or believe.

When a soldier goes home to his or her family, friends and community, how do we relate to people who expect the person that is no longer us? How do we tell them that each time we took a life that, we too died in spirit a little more?

They congratulate us on a job well done and we tell ourselves that we did our job, what we were trained to do. They tell us how proud they are, and we cannot make them understand how we feel guilty for that pride.

How do we tell them that we cannot get those faces or images out of our mind?

Excerpt from Zoriah's blog:

A couple of days ago I went out on a foot patrol in Sadr City with a young a soldier and noticed the tattoo on his arm, featuring a rosary and the words “Forgive Me.” I asked him what the story behind it was.

He said, “After my first tour in Iraq, I went back home to the states and all my friends called me a murderer and killer. I guess I started thinking a lot about all the things I had done over here…you know.”

© Zoriah/www.zoriah.com