I Believe In This Country

I love my country and what it stands for.  Photo by Henry Zeman.

The parades are still on for tomorrow, our flag will proudly fly in the breeze, and many visitors to the Traverse City area visitors will leave for home. But will everyone remember and never forget the meaning of Memorial Day?

One wonders if the United States of America has as many patriots as during other war years? Are there as many patriots now as those men and women who stood up to be counted in the weeks and months following Pearl Harbor?

Are there as many patriots now as those hardy souls who fought and died on those frozen wasteland mountains and ridges between North and South Korea when we fought that miserable and dragged-out battle? And less we forget, how about those armed forces who fought and died for their country during a tour of duty in the steamy jungles of Viet Nam, a generation ago?

Patriotism is still alive and well in this country.

There should be more because more people live in the United States now than did back in those days of 35 to 65 years ago. But it makes one wonder why people sit at ball games and hockey games when our National Anthem is sung, and not stand at attention, hat off, and hand on heart? Many pay tribute to our flag, and our armed forces, but some do not.

I believe each of us can have and should voice an opinion about that mess we are mired in in Afghanistan and other Middle East countries that seem ready to pop. We may disagree with our personal opinions while respecting each others' right to state their personal thoughts and opinions. After all, freedom of thought and speech is one thing our armed forces have fought all of these wars to protect.

Our men and women have fought and died to help those things we enjoy, but often take for granted.

I also believe that each person in this country should take pride in our flag, stand with hand over heart, as the red, white and blue goes flying during parades on a day like today. I feel we should sing our National Anthem with a strong clear voice and a deep sense of pride. Our Pledge of Allegiance is not something to be taken lightly by anyone in this country.

Stand up and honor our national flag.

My  thoughts concerning political parties, as well as religious preferences, are a private thing I choose not to discuss. One way of proving our freedom is in our right to vote, and those who do not vote can hardly criticize anyone's performance in public office. Those of us who did vote -- for or against the current and past administrations -- have that right. One must vote to earn that right.

Voting is a precious thing. It is the democratic way. It is something we should cherish and cling to. It is something we must strongly believe in, for if we stop believing in our country and our right to vote, it's quite possible someone will try to take those privileges and rights away.

My grandson served a tour of duty in Iraq. He was lucky: he came home with all his body parts and no injuries. Unless one counts those that may be locked away in his head about which he never speaks. Is he a victim of this war as well?

How about those of us who stay at home, and pray for the return of those who go to war to fight our nation's battles. We waited, and hoped never to look out the window to see an official U.S. vehicle pull into the driveway bearing the most horrible of news.

Sadly, that has happened to people we know. Any death in combat deserves our attention and our tears.

Everyone, in one way or another, has been affected by terrorism.

We all know someone who has suffered that gut-wrenching experience of deep loss. The death of a loved one, whether in a car wreck or some middle-east hell-hole, is something no  one should experience. Sadly, it occurs every day as someone gets notified on a war-related injury or death.

I strongly believe in this country, and what it stands for. I may disagree with the reasons why we are in such places as Iraq, but my country is better than any other country on Earth. It is why I love and deeply respect it.

I believe in the role of our military but disagree on why they are there. I pray for the safety of our troops, and thank them daily in prayers or in person for what they've done for us.

My  enemies are those who were responsible for 9/11, and those who wish to impose this brand of terrorism on innocent people. Saddam Hussein paid dearly for his crimes against humanity, as has Osama bin Ladin, but there is no way his death could ever replace what he and his goons did to their countrymen and innocents in New York City and Washington, DC or a dirt Pennsylvania field.

So our troops continue to fight, and some will die, to allow those of us at home to retain our freedom and independence, and the right to a democratic way of life. We are being told that our troops are coming home, but it isn't fast enough for me. They also have lived and died so others who live where they died could be free from oppression.

Those who would defile our flag and what it stands for, and gloat over the pain and misery and death they have inflicted to people of their homeland and the United States and our allies, are no friends of mine. They are our enemies.

Thank our Armed Forces, past and present, for their time and sacrifices.

Today, tomorrow and every day for the rest of my life, I shall thank those who went into harms way for their supreme sacrifices. I thank them personally, and thank them publicly from this daily weblog, for being there and for going to war to protect the ways of this great nation in a time of need.

Never will I forget their many sacrifices nor will I ever forget those cowardly acts of terrorism on 9/11, a day of infamy when many of us were  struck dumb by visions of airplanes being deliberately flown into tall buildings.

We were naive then. Such tragedies made patriots of people who hardly knew the meaning of the word. That infamous day, much like Pearl Harbor, will live forever in the hearts of people who believe in this country and what it will always stand for.

I am a patriot. I love my country, and the men and women who make us strong. How about you? Will you pray for the souls of those who have died, and will die, to keep our nation safe from the evil of our enemies and keep it forever free?

I spent time in the military, and even at the tender age of almost 72, I would still fight to protect  your rights and mine if the situation called for it. Today is more than a holiday, a picnic, and time for friends to gather as summer begins.

It also is a day to remember, and to vow that you'll never forget those people who have fought and died for this country. Do your thing today: thank someone who has served their country for their courage and sacrifices on our behalf.

It's just the right thing to do.

Title: I Believe In This Country

Tags: ((Dave, Richey, Michigan, outdoors, Memorial, Day, national, flag, democracy, always, remember, God, Bless, America))

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors