Thank a veteran on Veteran’s Day.
Watch our Truth in Two (full text below).
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Picture Credit: Luke Renoe, Snappygoat.com
FULL TEXT
Ahead of Veterans Day I want to make a declaration: I love my country just as anyone who may take pride in their land of birth. I stand in respect when our national anthem is sung. By doing so I give honor to those who died in service of America. I get a lump in my throat when I hear The Star-Spangled Banner sung. Tears fill my eyes when I see the flag saluted by those in uniform, when I see the flag at half-staff to remember someone’s death, or when I see a folded flag handed to the spouse whose mate gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country.
The American flag is important, the colors and construction are significant. That field of blue symbolizes vigilance, fairness, perseverance. The red focuses on valor and resilience. The white imagines purity and goodness. 50 stars – one for each state – are combined, representing e pluribus unum “out of the many, one.” Thirteen stripes remember the original thirteen colonies whose stand against injustice from an authoritarian leader began the nation’s history.
That flag was fought for, by the one laid to rest in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. His sacrifice stands as representation for the sacrifice of tens of thousands; warriors who have given me my freedom. My freedom comes with responsibility. Liberty lives through sacrifice. I never take my inalienable rights for granted and I never forget those who have sacrificed to make liberty possible.
I am acquainted with enough military history to know of the great sacrifices of our armed forces. Men and women have bled and died on foreign soil so that our enemies could be stopped there, before they come here. The American soldier can be the best friend to the oppressed and the worst nightmare to the oppressor. “These colors don’t run” is the best way to express the red, white, and blue. And we are grateful. The few have given the many the safety of military security, standing against America’s enemies so we can sleep peacefully in our beds. And we are grateful.
For all its faults, we live in the most peaceful, prosperous nation in human history. When I look around the world and see the wonderful cultural heritage of many nations, I revel in the beautiful backgrounds and marvelous people groups around the globe. People from those countries still want to come here, to America. Why? This country is seen as the land of opportunity, where dreams can become reality.
And it is in that same spirit that I can say I am proud to be an American. Land of the brave. Home of the free. A Republic, if we can keep it. The future of this nation for our children and grandchildren is up to us. For Truth in Two, this is Dr. Mark Eckel, president of the Comenius Institute, personally grateful to all our veterans, every day.
Segments of this Truth in Two taken from my Ode to America, 2 July 2020
Thank you for your kind words and the valor in which you say them. We are blessed by those who wrote a blank check with their lives so that we may stand in freedom. That check stands today by thousands who wear the uniform, ready at a moments notice to leave everything behind. This is done all in the name of FREEDOM! Thank you veterans this day and everyone here after. God bless you and your families!