I am the harvest of man’s stupidity. I am the fruit of the holocaust. I prayed like you to survive, but look at me now. It is over for us who are dead, but you must struggle, and will carry the memories all your life. People back home will wonder why you can’t forget.”
–E. B Sledge (With the Old Breed)
“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
“With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
–Ephesians 6:18(HCSB)
——————————–
I argued with myself regarding today’s Echo, especially since I wrote about Memorial Day last Friday. I won the argument. In today’s society I don’t think we can say too much regarding the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Much, way too many, walk along today with their hands out and their noses pointed into their phones. Sacrifice? What is that? Security? Why is that something we need, I have all I want, well, maybe not…?
I don’t know if there’s any rhyme to what I’m saying but there is reason. George Washington said many years ago, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were Treated and Appreciated by their nation.” If we do not appreciate and understand the sacrifice of previous generations and if it is not taught to the following generations what is left? We have done a pretty good job, oh, until the war in Vietnam. There is so much nonsense and verbariage spoken and written regarding that war, and yes, it was a war, but it was then that we ceased to honor our servicemen. There was a reprisal with 9/11/01, but it has been short-lived, especially now with the attacks on our military by Wokeism, socialism, and progressivism. Our military is being cut apart from within; dismantling itself.
Remove the monument, and not only those that are statues, but those in the textbooks. Tear down the men and women, put in their place weaklings, ne’er-do-wells, and a host of other ill-reputable ideologies. Sacrifice may be required, the ultimate sacrifice may be among them. How can the man or woman in the military respond to that without the concept of a higher moral base. In fact, Stephen Mansfield wrote that the creed a soldier is to live by “asks for moral conduct and sacrifice that isn’t usually possible for human beings without some higher truth in their lives.” Higher truth–certainly not man’s then, but God’s. Washington said in his Farewell Address, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”
This Memorial Day, take time to reflect, but also to think about what is happening and what could happen if we should weaken our military, physically, mentally, and morally. Yes, the standards have been lowered, of that I am convinced and have seen practical evidence of that. But ponder the words I write below. They may be regarding veterans, but if the standards are not maintained, if the veteran is not honored, what kind of sacrifice is to be made? The sacrifice of our country as we know and love it.
“It was life rather than death that faded into the distance, as I grew into a state of not thinking, not feeling, not seeing. I moved past trees, past other things; men passed by me, carrying other men, some crying, some cursing, some silent. They were all unreal. Balanced uneasily on the knife-edge between utter oblivion and this temporary not-knowing, it seemed little matter whether I were…to go forward to death or to come back to life.” –Captain Wyn Griffith (1916)
I can remember, way back when I was in grade school being taught those famous words given by Nathan Hale, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Is this still being taught? I doubt it. The words can be googled, but the courage and tenacity behind those words cannot. Stand firm in defense of our country, yet we see hundreds of college students crying in favor of fascism and socialism. And let me say this, from my studies, fascism is not dead. It was not eradicated with World War II. It now has cloaked itself with new names, new lies, and the closest I can see that resembles fascism is the tyrannical governments proposed by Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah and the like. Radical Islam, study it, reeks of fascism. Be ready, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8, NKJV)
One of the core values of the Air Force states, “Integrity is a character trait. It is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. It is the ‘moral compass’ the inner voice; the voice of self-control; the basis for the trust imperative in today’s military.” With so many changes taking place in our military I wonder if this is still one of the core values. The Marines are dropping Drill Instructor (D.I.) to Drill Sergeant–big deal you say–yes, a beginning. The Air Force, formally T.I., technical instructors are now Military Training Instructors (MTI). It is to soften the image of the old D.I. The man who was in charge of taking snot-nosed kids and making them into men.
I’ll close my ramblings today with the words from Shakespeare. The Feast of Crispian and King Henry V made a speech. It would do us well to reflect upon his words. Few out there today can relate to it. They see movies, i.e., Band of Brothers, but they cannot know the impact. They may look up from their phones, but they do not understand nor do most of them want to. Ponder the speech, and have a wonderful Memorial Day.
“That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse; we would not die in that man’s company that fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is call’d the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and come safe home, will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, and rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, and say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian.’ Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’ Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, but he’ll remember, with advantages what feats he did that day…
This story shall the good man teach his son; and Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered–we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here…”
“This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and have prepared everything, to take your stand.” –Ephesians 6:13, HCSB
——————————–
I argued with myself regarding today’s Echo, especially since I wrote about Memorial Day last Friday. I won the argument. In today’s society I don’t think we can say too much regarding the sacrifices of those who have gone before. Much, way too many, walk along today with their hands out and their noses pointed into their phones. Sacrifice? What is that? Security? Why is that something we need, I have all I want, well, maybe not…?
I don’t know if there’s any rhyme to what I’m saying but there is reason. George Washington said many years ago, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were Treated and Appreciated by their nation.” If we do not appreciate and understand the sacrifice of previous generations and if it is not taught to the following generations what is left? We have done a pretty good job, oh, until the war in Vietnam. There is so much nonsense and verbariage spoken and written regarding that war, and yes, it was a war, but it was then that we ceased to honor our servicemen. There was a reprisal with 9/11/01, but it has been short-lived, especially now with the attacks on our military by Wokeism, socialism, and progressivism. Our military is being cut apart from within; dismantling itself.
Remove the monument, and not only those that are statues, but those in the textbooks. Tear down the men and women, put in their place weaklings, ne’er-do-wells, and a host of other ill-reputable ideologies. Sacrifice may be required, the ultimate sacrifice may be among them. How can the man or woman in the military respond to that without the concept of a higher moral base. In fact, Stephen Mansfield wrote that the creed a soldier is to live by “asks for moral conduct and sacrifice that isn’t usually possible for human beings without some higher truth in their lives.” Higher truth–certainly not man’s then, but God’s. Washington said in his Farewell Address, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”
This Memorial Day, take time to reflect, but also to think about what is happening and what could happen if we should weaken our military, physically, mentally, and morally. Yes, the standards have been lowered, of that I am convinced and have seen practical evidence of that. But ponder the words I write below. They may be regarding veterans, but if the standards are not maintained, if the veteran is not honored, what kind of sacrifice is to be made? The sacrifice of our country as we know and love it.
“It was life rather than death that faded into the distance, as I grew into a state of not thinking, not feeling, not seeing. I moved past trees, past other things; men passed by me, carrying other men, some crying, some cursing, some silent. They were all unreal. Balanced uneasily on the knife-edge between utter oblivion and this temporary not-knowing, it seemed little matter whether I were…to go forward to death or to come back to life.” –Captain Wyn Griffith (1916)
I can remember, way back when I was in grade school being taught those famous words given by Nathan Hale, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Is this still being taught? I doubt it. The words can be googled, but the courage and tenacity behind those words cannot. Stand firm in defense of our country, yet we see hundreds of college students crying in favor of fascism and socialism. And let me say this, from my studies, fascism is not dead. It was not eradicated with World War II. It now has cloaked itself with new names, new lies, and the closest I can see that resembles fascism is the tyrannical governments proposed by Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah and the like. Radical Islam, study it, reeks of fascism. Be ready, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8, NKJV)
One of the core values of the Air Force states, “Integrity is a character trait. It is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. It is the ‘moral compass’ the inner voice; the voice of self-control; the basis for the trust imperative in today’s military.” With so many changes taking place in our military I wonder if this is still one of the core values. The Marines are dropping Drill Instructor (D.I.) to Drill Sergeant–big deal you say–yes, a beginning. The Air Force, formally T.I., technical instructors are now Military Training Instructors (MTI). It is to soften the image of the old D.I. The man who was in charge of taking snot-nosed kids and making them into men.
I’ll close my ramblings today with the words from Shakespeare. The Feast of Crispian and King Henry V made a speech. It would do us well to reflect upon his words. Few out there today can relate to it. They see movies, i.e., Band of Brothers, but they cannot know the impact. They may look up from their phones, but they do not understand nor do most of them want to. Ponder the speech, and have a wonderful Memorial Day.
“That he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse; we would not die in that man’s company that fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is call’d the feast of Crispian. He that outlives this day, and come safe home, will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, and rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, and say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian.’ Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, and say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’ Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, but he’ll remember, with advantages what feats he did that day…
This story shall the good man teach his son; and Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered–we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition; and gentlemen in England now abed shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here…”
“This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and have prepared everything, to take your stand.” –Ephesians 6:13, HCSB