Friday Morning in Nerk, Ahia, as it is sometimes called, 46 degrees out, feels like Fall, only its June 24th, Memorial Day Weekend.
I hope everyone, this weekend, spend a few minutes, contemplating what it actually means to "give ones life for ones country." Really think about it. Put down your burger or brat, your beer or soda, raise your eyes to the heavens, and ask Him, or talk with Him, about what that actually means.
I have lived during a time when thousands have "given their lives" ..... and I really don't think that any of them have really "given" ... it was taken away from them, and I think it is marketing genius to come up with a statement like, "he gave his life so others might live." Comforting words, "on behalf of a grateful nation." I wonder who, when and where, it was determined as "honorable" to die for ones country. That is something we have grown up with and been told, or seen, frequently.
Are those who died to be honored, of course, they paid the "ultimate price for freedom."
I was in the service, the Navy, 1952 to 1956, I was never in combat, one Korean who had too much to drink took a shot at our ship with a rifle, that was it. We were tied up on the port side, so we used the starboard side to walk around. While tied up in Korea, after being shot at, I was written up, and taken before the "Captain's Mast," I think it was called. For what, you ask? We had a visiting Chaplain that performed church service that Sunday, he was a Catholic Priest. My offense, it was later learned that I did not use "blessed" candles on the alter. I forget how that all ended, but I served no "hard time."
I realize that this day of observance is for those who died while in the service, I had none. But, my Grandfather was in the Civil War, my Dad in WWI, my Brother in WWII, I was in Korea, a son in Viet Nam, and another son in Desert Storm. All of them will be remembered this weekend.
"On behalf of a grateful nation," ................
