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Thanksgiving for our Veterans
By Richard S. Lowry
Today, Americans enjoy a freedom unequaled in the history of civilization. Our good fortune goes unnoticed by most everyone in their day-to-day lives. We are free to express ourselves. We are free of oppression. We are free of fear.
We move about in our daily lives taking our children to school, little league games, and the movies. We are safe and comfortable in our homes at night and the vast majority of us do not want for the necessities of life – food, clean water, and shelter.
Our lives are utopian, yet most Americans never stop to think about the hundreds of thousands – millions – of brave young men and women who are standing at the gates, guarding our nation: the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who are fighting, bleeding and dying in foreign lands so that we may remain free.
My family has not forgotten the sacrifices made by these men and women and their families. I would personally like to voice our thanksgiving to all of the members of our armed forces and their families for the contribution they are making on my family’s, on our nation’s, and on the world’s behalf.
We know that you all stand on a thin green line which protects us from the dark side of today’s world.
Let us not forget the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom; and let us all take a moment to remember the mothers, fathers, wives, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of these heroes. Let us all mourn their losses.
The greatest tribute we could ever pay to our American servicemen and women, both living and deceased, is to stop on Thanksgiving, pause during that football game, or stop and think as you sit down to dinner with your family that our lives are good because of the sacrifices of others. Consider what America would be without the men and women of our military. Stop and thank the next Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine you see. We all owe our freedom to them.
Semper Fidelis,
Richard S. Lowry is the author of "Marines in the Garden of Eden" and "The Gulf War Chronicles."
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To all vets, past and present-a big THANKS!!!!
Let us remember these words, written by a brother in arms from Canada, during the First Great War to End All Wars:
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
America's veterans are superb.
Right now, I'm reading "With The Old Breed: On Peleliu & Okinawa". There are no words I can add, except to recommend this Marine grunt's-eye view to everyone.
Thank you to all who have served, to all who serve, and all who will serve in years to come.
My wife and I are very proud of our two Navy daughters.
My wife is currently on a Tiger Cruise from Pearl Harbor to San Diego on my oldest daughter's ship. They are returning from a 6 month cruise to the Persian Gulf.
We will have the honor to have Thanksgiving dinner on my daughter's ship (she has watch).
My youngest daughter is completing her "A" school at Pensacola and will be assigned to HSC Two One at North Island NAS at the end of the month. Unfortunately, she won't be able to join us for Thanksgiving, but she understands that is part of the life she has chosen.
We will have a humdinger of a Chrsitmas though, as both girls will be able to be at home.
Billy Bob
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What's that saying about rough men prepared to do violence on our behalf?
Thanks men. And women.
Thanks.