Memorial Day

You know, I was thinking about what to write today, as we were out running around in the convertible, enjoying this beautiful day off. As we drove through town, a '69 Chevelle SS came up in the lane ahead of us. It was in immaculate condition, fire engine red with black markings, all the chrome shining (coulda done without the low profile tires, but the wheels they had on it looked good). It was sharp - I would love to have something like that one day (yes, even a GM product - so long as it's that old). But then I had to think; 1969. A good year for the auto industry. A great year for the Space Race. But it was also a time of war, in a place that many had not heard of before - Vietnam. So while so many of America's youth should have been home, burning up the streets in their muscle cars, they weren't; they were halfway around the world, again, "protecting the world against communism". And so many didn't come home.



The generation before that fought not one, but two World Wars, and the world changed. And the American soldier was there, and paid a heavy price. And now, we find ourselves in foreign lands, Afghanistan and Iraq, and once again, the American soldier is paying the price of our freedom, of his own free will. I think sometimes people forget that the freedoms they enjoy, and often take for granted, are available because there are those willing to volunteer to protect your right to have your opinion, your things, your days off from work.



So take a minute today, in between boating at the lake and grilling steaks and hamburgers, that if it hadn't been for the American soldier, many of today's usual American activities would not be possible.


Some links you may be interested in:
Women in Military Service for America Memorial
US Dept of Veteran's Affairs
US Memorial Day History
A Page with lots of links to good information

Not Free
by Roger W. Hancock
Nothing is ever free,
though to you it be.
Somewhere, somehow,
someone paid.