Memorial Day 2011

While I am considered (and not only by myself) to be a clever writer, I am also clever enough to stand aside when others have said it better that I can.  Today is such a day:

From Meng Ko [or "Mencius"] (c. BC 372–289); Chinese philosopher and student of K’ung Fu-Tzu [Confucius]) —

I dislike death, but there are things I dislike more than death, therefore, there are some circumstances in which I will not avoid danger.

From the fictional Lt. Col. Jean DuBois, a character in Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein —

Citizenship is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that the whole is greater than the part . . . and that the part should be humbly proud to sacrifice itself that the whole may live.

From the movie Patton, a speech attributed to General George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945) —

No dumb bastard ever won a war by dying for his country.  He won it by making the other poor, dumb bastard die for his country. . . . Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men.  It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.

From the military services—

First to fight for the right, And to build the Nation’s might,
And The Army Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all we have done, Fighting till the battle’s won,
And the Army Goes Rolling Along.

(US Army, founded 14 June 1775)

Stand, Navy, out to sea, Fight our battle cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy.
Roll out the TNT , Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, hooray!
 (US Navy, founded 13 October 1775)

First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean:
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine. 

(US Marine Corps, founded 10 November 1775)

Flying men, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on. Hey!
Nothing will stop the U.S. Air Force! 
(US Air Force, founded 18 September 1945)

From Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) —

We cannot overstate the sacrifice our military personnel – all volunteers – are making to ensure the security of their fellow Americans.

From Pres. Abraham Lincoln, who spoke, about one battle, words that apply to every battle —

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—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.

From Dennis O'Brian, USMC chaplain, quoted in The Federalist Patriot –

It's the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of press.
It's the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It's the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom of assembly.
It's the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It's the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It's the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

They say "brevity it the soul of whit," they should also say, "brevity is the soul of wisdom."  I conclude with the briefest of words, which, I hope, will echo in our hearts every day, for all the men and women who have given, who now give, and who, in days to come and conflicts yet to begin, will yet give their lives "to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic" —

All gave some . . . some gave all.
 

Thanks for listening, tune in next week for another rant.