And, that’s my opinion….
by Curtis Wright
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Jan. 15, 2008.
So, it is the day after…the day after we as Americans paused to remember those who gave, what President Lincoln called, their “last full measure of devotion”. But, I can’t help but wonder, for all the parades, all the ceremonies, and all emotional speeches, just how many, of all of us in America, paused….just how many said a prayer of thanks, just how many took a young person aside to talk about the courage, the bravery, and the sacrifice that we were to honor on this our nation’s Memorial Day?
Did you as a grandparent sit with your children, and/or your children’s children, and share your memories or stories of the Great World War, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Did you tell of the suffering and the courage of those American soldiers at Stalag IIB; Malmedy; Bataan; Cabanatuan; Palawan; Taejon; Hanoi Hilton; or, The Zoo?
Did you remind all those who would listen of the young Dough-boys that were killed in the trenches and in the fields of Europe in that “War to end all Wars”? Did you speak of the death and destruction at Pearl Harbor, or the magnitude of the sacrifice on the shores of France, Guadalcanal or Iwo Jima? Did you tell of our nation’s sorrow at the losses in Korea and Vietnam? Did you remind your family, your children and grandchildren, your friends and neighbors, of those volunteers who were standing the post even yesterday, while you grilled your burgers and steaks, swam at the beach, or ran off to the Mall to shop?
Did you, as a family, or as a group of friends, watch the ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington, and talk of the heroes that lie in that sacred ground? Did you tell of the thousands of foreign gravesites, where generations of our soldiers have fallen while in desperate struggles to free the world of tyranny? Did you explain the importance of our historic traditions of how we honor our fallen soldiers with salutes, and song and taps?
Today, we live in a world not much different than that of the past. We live in a world where humans are always fighting to oppress, enslave and dominate their fellow man. And, as they have in the past, many nations of the world speak of freedom and liberty, but rarely are they have they been willing to sacrifice all, including their youth, for such a cause, especially for others.
In modern times…yes, America has been the last best hope for freedom and liberty in this world. And, despite the ungrateful beneficiaries, and disingenuous politicians, our nation’s patriots, those who wear the uniform, have protected and defended that solemn promise and historic responsibility countless times, in countless places, for countless peoples.
Yesterday, I spent my day, like so many each year, reminding myself of the courage, the honor and the sacrifice of all those generations who gave their lives to ensure the freedom, the liberty and the safety which I, my children, and my family enjoy here in America. It was my sacred obligation to do so yesterday. And, it is my sacred obligation to do so each and every day of my life. I am forever grateful.
For I am an American…who’s forefathers proclaimed to the world a man’s right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”…and, who’s generations of soldiers secured those rights: with their blood, for me, my posterity, and all the world.
History will long remember and honor what our American soldiers have sacrificed for all mankind…I only wish all Americans would take more than one day a year to do the same!
And, that’s my opinion.
CURTIS WRIGHT is the Host of THE MORNING BEAT talk radio show on The Big Talker FM 93.7/106.3, www.thebigtalkerfm.com, Southeastern North Carolina’s only FM talk radio station. Curtis also writes for Squall Lines, http://wilmington.johnlocke.org, a blog produced by the John Locke Foundation, and is the Host of CAROLINA TALK seen on WWAYTV3/ABC of Wilmington, North Carolina, www.wwaytv3.com/talk.
Memorial Day
