Brushfire of Freedom
The Armory
Memorial Day. Not just a three-day weekend, but a day to remember those who have fallen in the service of our nation. That means they died while protecting the rights and freedoms that most Americans take for granted. It was originally called “Decoration Day” when it was established in 1868, and was a time for placing flowers on the graves of those who had died in the Civil War. The original date was May 30th, though we have moved it to a “some Monday” to provide workers with a lengthy weekend.
Don’t get me wrong. I like a long holiday as much as the next person. But there is a special reason for Memorial Day, and I believe that when we forget those who have sacrificed everything for their country, we begin to forget the country for which they sacrificed. This country was founded on the principle that all men are created equal. Yet at the time of the Civil War, we found ourselves treating some of our fellow citizens as less than equal, even less than human. Many men, on both sides, died for their beliefs. They died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that has always been the promise of our nation.
In the early and mid 1900’s, two great wars were fought around the globe. These great wars, World Wars One and Two, were fought by many Americans, some not even in defense of US shores, but against the tyranny and hatred that spawned those great battles. Many more young Americans gave their lives here and abroad to ensure that the light of freedom that is American could shine here and across the world. After those wars ended, we saw many tired, hungry, and poor come to this country and start a new life. They took advantage of our freedoms, worked hard, sacrificed in their own way, and made America even greater. They built on the sacrifice of those who had died defending our nation and others. Many more Americans died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that was still the promise of our nation.
In the 1990’s, more precious American blood was shed on foreign soil, this time in the Middle East. Most who fought in the first Gulf War could not say the names of the places they were defending, but that was not new for the American warrior. They fought to free a small Arab country from a tyrant, one who would enslave the people of Kuwait. We were blessed as a nation that not many lives were lost during that war, but every life lost is precious. Still, more Americans had died so that others could enjoy the freedom and liberty that was meant to be the promise of their nation.
Then in 2001, thousands of American lives were stolen in mere minutes, as an evil entity with no national boundary struck our country on our home soil. It was not the first time we had been attacked here. It had happened at Pearl Harbor, and in 1993 at the World Trade Center. This most recent loss of American blood occurred in three locations; New York, our greatest commercial city, Washington D.C., the center of our government, and in a field in Pennsylvania. That Pennsylvania field marked yet another miraculous sacrifice, where a small group of Americans found themselves with a terrible decision. They could sacrifice themselves and save possibly hundreds or even thousands more Americans, or they could sit and do nothing, letting others die with them. They, like countless other Americans before them, chose to give up their lives so that others might live on to enjoy the freedom and liberty that is the promise of this great nation.
Shortly after the attack on this nation by Islamic terrorists, our leaders decided to take the fight to the heart of the militant organization. In the process, thousands of precious American lives were once again lost in places whose names they could not quite pronounce. This nation’s finest made sacrifices to free another nation, a different people, and in the process make their country safer. They shed their blood again on foreign soil, as so many others before them have done. They gave their lives so that the people of Iraq could taste freedom and liberty, and the people of America could breathe more freely. They chose to give up their lives so that others around the world might live on to enjoy the freedom and liberty that is the desire of the human spirit.
It is impossible to count the drops of blood, the shed tears, and the shattered dreams that have been spent to unify, protect, and defend this nation, and her allies. Countries like France, Iraq, Kuwait, The United Kingdom, and many, many others owe at least some part of their freedom and liberty to the sacrifices made by Americans. Yet, were it possible, if you were to ask any one of those who have passed, any who have given their lives in defense of this nation and many others, they would tell you without hesitation that they do not regret their decision. Americans have willingly chosen, throughout our history, to give our lives so that others may enjoy the freedom and liberty that is our right, as endowed by our Creator. It is truly a miracle, for us and for the world, that we are what we are. On this Memorial day, you should remember.
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