I had a heartfelt Memorial Day post typed up but decided against posting it. Nothing that I can say can add anything to these two congruous, albeit very short, quotes from two of this great Nation’s leaders. My only comment will be to add “Thank you” to all the men and women in service.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate…we can not consecrate…we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. – Ronald Reagan
May 31, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Amen, Thank you for your consideration of us soldiers on this day. My whole life I always called and thanked my grandfather for his service in Korea, and now that I am older and serve in the Army, I see people who view Memorial day as just a day to kick off the summer. It’s depressing but I try to remember that I didn’t join the Army for the thanks. I joined to serve and protect our free nation. Thanks again.
June 1, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Rich, I don’t have too many regrets in life, but once decision I do regret is not enlisting in the service. It wasn’t really until I started my family and starting paying attention to just what all the freedoms I have are, that I really developed a sense of gratitude.
I’m being to feel too often a spirit of compromise and self-loathing disguised as pacifism in the hearts of many American’s today. The so call “educated elite” seem to think that just talking and changing our country will somehow usher in a new era of world peace; I feel these people have no concept of history.
Every year around this time I get the same forwarded email from just about everyone I know, and while I could be argued that it’s content is now cliche it doesn’t make it any less true. The message states:
Too many people don’t take this seriously enough.
I thank you for your service.