Brushfire of Freedom
The Conservative Cowboy
Note: Originally published Memorial Day, 2009 at Brushfire Sparks
Too often we as Americans take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy every day in this great nation. Too often we are too busy with our lives to stop and remember why we enjoy these freedoms. Too often we forget that this is the greatest country in the world. The reason that we enjoy all of these items is simple, the American S
oldier. A person that is willing to give their lives so others can live in freedom. As we take the long weekend that comes with Memorial Day we cannot forget the men and women whom we are honoring, and their sacrifice to this great nation.
I want to take this opportunity to talk about a branch of the military that is often forgotten, but is just as vital to the perseverance of this country; The US Coast Guard. The US Coast Guard was officially named a branch of our military service in 1915. During a declaration of war the Coast Guard operates under the US Navy. The US Coast Guard was a vital piece of our forces in WW2, Korea and Vietnam, operating patrols that supported our troops. The Coast Guard was involved in numerous rescues of our service men and women during these Wars. They were vital in enforcing the UN trade embargoes in the Persian Gulf in 2002. In 2003 the Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security. This is an important switch because the Coast Guard is now one of our greatest lines of defense against naval attacks on US soil.
In addition to the help that the Coast Guard provides for our military, they are also given the responsibility to help our own citizens. The Coast Guard was a huge part of the relief effort after hurricane Katrina, rescuing over 33,000 people. The Coast guard is also charged with the safety of our personal and commerce related sea vessels.
Whether it is the US Coast Guard or any other branch of the military in this great country I am grateful everyday to those men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our way of life. The defense of this nation and our way of life is and should remain the top priority in this country, and I am glad that we have service men and women on the job everyday to help in that defense. The service men and women of the country have always shared a common motivating factor in their defense of this nation; pride, the pride that this country provides people with the freedoms that all humans deserve. The pride that the people of this nation will recognize their sacrifice and help preserve the very freedoms that separate this country from every other country in the world.
I salute those who have fallen and those who are willing to fall to fight for something that is bigger than all of us….the freedom of a great nation.
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