May 31, 2010, - 11:50 am
Memorial Day: They Gave Their Lives–& Their Lives Were Taken From Them–So We Could Be Free
My late father (Blessed Be His Memory)–a proud U.S. Army veteran who served during Vietnam–taught me from a young age, appreciation for our military who served our country with pride and courage. He was always proud of our American troops and instilled in me that lifelong appreciation of those who made the ultimate sacrifice so that his family, my family, could be free, after having escaped the anti-Semitism of Europe, where they were mostly wiped out by the Nazis and the preceding pogroms.
U.S. Army Sgt. Chris Moore @ the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Photo by H. Darr Beiser/USA Today)
Natl Guard Staff Sgt. Duane Dreasky is Buried in Arlington Natl. Cemetery
It’s trite but true: Today is a day that’s much more than hot dogs and picnics. It’s far more important. It’s about remembering those who gave their lives (and limbs) so that we could be and remain–to this day–free. Freedom isn’t free. For or against the war? Either way, they gave their lives so that you could travel, gather, associate, and speak your mind.
They’re young men like Marine Cpl. Jacob Tubett, married just two years and so young–murdered by the Taliban at age 21 on February 13th of this year. His widow, Crystal, is only 20. They’re great Americans, like Michigan National Guardsman Sgt. Duane Dreasky (my posts about him here, here here, here, here, and here), who volunteered to go to Iraq, even though–after a year serving at Guantanamo Bay–he was assigned to stay here in comfort as a recruiter. He died in 2006, after a valiant 8-month fight to survive wounds from a terrorist attack near Habbaniyah, Iraq. The heroic Dreasky suffered burns over 75% of his body, but still tried to salute President Bush when he visited his bedside.
Many Americans don’t think often, if at all, about our brave troops, especially the ones we remember today who made the ultimate sacrifice. You might be on a plane, reading the paper or a magazine, and not know or appreciate that one of our first-class American Heroes is riding beneath you . . .
But despite the fact that far too many Americans care more about Kardashians than your sacrifices for our country, a good nucleus of righteous American people care about you, our soldiers, our fighting men and women, whose lives were taken from them so we could still live free.
To all of our American soldiers, living and dead, we salute you, we pray for you, we appreciate you, and we thank you for fighting for our freedom and the continued existence of our beloved country. To those for whom Memorial Day is meant, thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice for us, for our freedom. Rest in Peace.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Graves of Some of Our Fallen Heroes at Arlington National Cemetery
Graves of American Soldiers Who Gave Their Lives in WII @ Normandy
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Today, among the many we mourn, I include my cousin, the late Col. Albert H. Schlussel of the U.S. Air Force, who served in WWII and Korea and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Zichrono LiVrachah [Blessed Be His Memory].
Tags: Memorial Day, Memorial Day 2010
A fabulous article, and tribute to all of those who have fought and died for our freedoms! LET FREEDOM RING!
Pamela Bunta on May 31, 2010 at 12:02 pm