It’s easy to
tell others they ought to honor those who’ve sacrificed, but have you, one
who’s made the sacrifice, honored yourself? It’s difficult for many of us
who’ve sacrificed so much, to be ok with giving ourselves a pat on the back. I
know I know, we are supposed to remain non-celebratory about our sacrifice, our
service, but we deserve it, you deserve it. But look around, there are so many
service members, they go without so much as a hand shake, a thank you, they go
without recognition for the sacrifices they have made. They have sacrificed
their lives, their friends, brothers and sisters.
Those that
have made the ultimate sacrifice and have died have their memorial; they have
family members that cry for them, they have friends and comrades who pray for
their souls. But those who’ve come back without their partners, friends, fellow
veterans, who prays for them, who cries for them? Much of the time these vets
come back changed, they feel bitter, they feel guilty, and they come back
alone. Often they are difficult to understand or deal with, so those around
them step back and give them room, they are treated like they have some sort of
contagion. Let me be clear here when I say that this is not the case for
everyone, however, if it the case for one veteran, it is the case for too many.
So as a
veteran, I say be ok with slapping yourself on the back, and to honor those
whom did not make it back, or those that are stuck in turmoil, celebrate the
sacrifices you have made. Recognize those sacrifices; look them in the eye as
you have so many of your adversaries and say thank you. Be proud of those
sacrifices you have made, can you do that in the mirror? Can you look yourself
in the eye and say thanks?
Don’t allow
the Meagan Lyn Mays’ of this world to disparage all that you have given to this
world, even to her. And I for one will stand beside you, proud to be your
brother in arms, to be a fellow veteran, I for one will be grateful. I cannot
and will not lose sight of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice, I think
of them daily, I will remember them; I will honor them by honoring myself and
by celebrating their service and sacrifice. I will do this by telling others of
their service, of their heroisms, of their decision to stand the line, to
protect our freedoms.
And to those
like Meagan Lyn May, to those that oppose our way of life and our means of
servitude, to those I say you are welcome. Come forth and speak your mind, for
I have stood toe to toe with my enemy to preserve the right for you to do so.
Whether I follow your line of thinking, your beliefs or not, and I will not
persecute you for them but celebrate your freedom to speak them. This is how we
honor those that have sacrificed. I would also ask that in return, whether or
not you agree with my line of thinking, or beliefs, come stand next to me,
share your beliefs with me, let’s come together and commemorate our freedom of
speech, lets honor those responsible, lets honor our children in your name, and
in the names of our brothers and sisters let’s pay tribute to those
individuals. Then ask yourself, what sacrifices have you made, what sacrifices
will you make?
Thank you, TC, not only for your defending our homeland, but for defending our liberties as well.
ReplyDelete