Re: My fellow veterans. . .
The FederalistPatriot says it very well:<br /><br />
Patriot No. 05-45 11, November, 2005 <br /><br /> Today is Veterans Day. It is appropriate that 11 November also commemorates the signing of the Mayflower Compact in 1620. That simple document, after all, is the taproot of a great nation; a shining beacon of liberty which owes its very existence to American veterans.<br /><br />The Defense Department recently presented us with a staggering bill for our cherished freedom: Since the American Revolution, nearly 1.2-million members of our fighting forces have died while in service to our country. Not to be forgotten are the 1.4 million who were wounded during that time. The numbers, of course, offer no reckoning of the inestimable value of these Patriots' lives or the sacrifices borne by their families, but we do know that their sacrifices defended a most precious gifta gift of liberty that we cherish to this day. <br /><br />...as General George S. Patton, Jr., reminded us, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." Indeed.<br /><br />A Patton contemporary, General Douglas MacArthur, framed his farewell address before cadets at West Point around duty, honor, country: "Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn... Your guidepost stands out like a ten-fold beacon in the night: Duty, honor, country." <br /><br /> Yet long before either of these revered American generals weighed in, John Stuart Mill had penned his thoughts with prophetic brilliance: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." <br /><br />... In the end, America stands proud and free because our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen have stood bravely in harm's waythen as now. They were, and remain, better men. For their steadfast devotion to duty, honor and country, we, the American People, offer our humble gratitude and heartfelt thanks.<br /><br />Accordingly, let us set aside a moment to reflect upon and honor the sacrifice of our Patriot veterans. Today, especially, let us raise up our veterans and their families in our prayers.
