THE LAST FULL MEASURE - THE SUNDAY COMMENTARY
They came from every corner of our nation representing our best and bravest. They fought in places whose names have become familiar to us not because the field had any great significance but because of what they so bravely did there.
Places like Trenton, Valley Forge, Antietam, Gettysburg, Gallipoli, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Porkchop Hill, Inchon, Hamburger Hill, Basra, Kuwait City, Asadabad, Baghdad, Fallujah. Each of these locations and many more where brave Americans gave the lives defending freedom and fighting for liberty in defense of this nation.
Not one of these brave American heroes left home to fight with the intention of giving their life for this nation but left with a willingness to perform their duty with honor and with pride in service to their country with the full knowledge that this sacrifice in service may cost the, "last full measure of devotion."
They were willing because they realized that freedom is not free and that there is a high price to pay defending what one believes in. Many of them left home as boys with high ideals and a yearning for adventure then faced the reality of war with uncommon bravery, devotion and sacrifice.
Some sacrificed themselves to save a fellow soldier, some to achieve an objective when the situation became extreme and stepping forward regardless of the cost. Some just because stepping forward was all that could be done. Most gave of themselves without knowing where the courage came from.But each who gave this, "last full measure, " are hero's who deserve our respect and our affections for what they sacrificed preserving freedom for each of us. They deserve our memoriam every day for the life they gave in sacrifice and defense of our Flag, our Country and our freedoms.
Nothing that we do, nothing that we say can bring them back nor honor them in the fullest extent that they so justifiably deserve. Though we try through memorials that unite us in their sacrifice and the beauty of the architecture. These great memorial structures that stir our emotions as we remember what they gave for us can never fully pay tribute to these heroic Americans that paved the way for our freedom.
Throughout the nation memorial services at cemeteries and memorials will remind us of each of these brave Americans who gave so that we may be free. We will shed tears to the strain of taps as we realize just how much they gave. Movies that attempt to portray their bravery and sacrifice will also remind us of the amazing feats that these best and bravest of this nation performed in defending our freedom.
Yet within all of these memorials and tributes to the thousands who have made the ultimate sacrifice at the altar of freedom, their heroism demands that we as a nation more than just remember but rather live our lives in the freedom that they have provided for us in a manner that honors their sacrifice and pays tribute daily to their devotion to this country.
If ever we fail to remember our freedom or surrender our liberties or take them for granted then we risk making their sacrifice in vain. In their sacrifice they never once considered it anything but their duty in service to this nation and an honor to have served. We owe each of them the same in our devotion to the liberties and freedoms that they sacrificed to give.
Nothing that we do can ever repay what they have given. Nothing that we say can ever express our gratitude for what we owe each of these brave heroes of freedom. How then can we begin to honor the memory and sacrifice of each who gave, "the last full measure of devotion ?"
President Lincoln said it best as he closed the Gettysburg Address, " 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. "
God bless our brave men and women who serve this nation and sacrifice daily. God bless the families of every soldier throughout our history who gave their all for freedoms sake......and finally God bless America !
Ken Taylor
Places like Trenton, Valley Forge, Antietam, Gettysburg, Gallipoli, Iwo Jima, Normandy, Porkchop Hill, Inchon, Hamburger Hill, Basra, Kuwait City, Asadabad, Baghdad, Fallujah. Each of these locations and many more where brave Americans gave the lives defending freedom and fighting for liberty in defense of this nation.
Not one of these brave American heroes left home to fight with the intention of giving their life for this nation but left with a willingness to perform their duty with honor and with pride in service to their country with the full knowledge that this sacrifice in service may cost the, "last full measure of devotion."
They were willing because they realized that freedom is not free and that there is a high price to pay defending what one believes in. Many of them left home as boys with high ideals and a yearning for adventure then faced the reality of war with uncommon bravery, devotion and sacrifice.
Some sacrificed themselves to save a fellow soldier, some to achieve an objective when the situation became extreme and stepping forward regardless of the cost. Some just because stepping forward was all that could be done. Most gave of themselves without knowing where the courage came from.But each who gave this, "last full measure, " are hero's who deserve our respect and our affections for what they sacrificed preserving freedom for each of us. They deserve our memoriam every day for the life they gave in sacrifice and defense of our Flag, our Country and our freedoms.
Nothing that we do, nothing that we say can bring them back nor honor them in the fullest extent that they so justifiably deserve. Though we try through memorials that unite us in their sacrifice and the beauty of the architecture. These great memorial structures that stir our emotions as we remember what they gave for us can never fully pay tribute to these heroic Americans that paved the way for our freedom.
Throughout the nation memorial services at cemeteries and memorials will remind us of each of these brave Americans who gave so that we may be free. We will shed tears to the strain of taps as we realize just how much they gave. Movies that attempt to portray their bravery and sacrifice will also remind us of the amazing feats that these best and bravest of this nation performed in defending our freedom.
Yet within all of these memorials and tributes to the thousands who have made the ultimate sacrifice at the altar of freedom, their heroism demands that we as a nation more than just remember but rather live our lives in the freedom that they have provided for us in a manner that honors their sacrifice and pays tribute daily to their devotion to this country.
If ever we fail to remember our freedom or surrender our liberties or take them for granted then we risk making their sacrifice in vain. In their sacrifice they never once considered it anything but their duty in service to this nation and an honor to have served. We owe each of them the same in our devotion to the liberties and freedoms that they sacrificed to give.
Nothing that we do can ever repay what they have given. Nothing that we say can ever express our gratitude for what we owe each of these brave heroes of freedom. How then can we begin to honor the memory and sacrifice of each who gave, "the last full measure of devotion ?"
President Lincoln said it best as he closed the Gettysburg Address, " 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. "
God bless our brave men and women who serve this nation and sacrifice daily. God bless the families of every soldier throughout our history who gave their all for freedoms sake......and finally God bless America !
Ken Taylor
posted by The Liberal Lie The Conservative Truth | 1:19 PM
7 Comments:
Outstanding Sunday commentary, Ken!
God bless every soldier!
Stuff it anonymouse! Why don't you move to Syria or North Korea.
You're an enabler of evil and a fool.
P.S. If we started the iraq war for oil and money then why am I paying so much for gas?
Hey anonymous, can I assume you were one of the many who demanded that US should buck the Burmese Generals and supply aid even if it meant going in with air cover. With no strategic interests or rationale to speak of, it’s suddenly acceptable to engage the military is that right?
Great commentary Ken….
It's a wonderful post, Ken!
Don't you just love these blogging fools who post as "Anonymous?" They can't even take the time to make up a name, yet they have plenty of time to run around on conservative blogs showing off their stupidity. Anonymouse calls us "dumbasses" and then says it's a government plot to keep us divided! LOL! If so it looks like he/she's in on it! ROTFALMBO!
It is a matter of economics, as always. Since the beginning of civilization, humans have struggled for resources, pitting one group against another- usually at the behest of the few; who stand to gain much more than the many, dying on the fields of battle.
Honor, religion, country, and belief, are wrapped around such conflicts as a means of justification and edification. Otherwise, in its clearest context, war would not be waged by the masses who stand to gain nothing.
شركة تنظيف سجاد مساجد بالبخار بجدة
شركة مكافحة الحمام بجدة
خدمات دبي
رقم شركة تنظيف مكيفات في دبي
تركيب مكيف مركزي دبي
Post a Comment
<< Home