Washington, D.C. – What are you thankful for on Memorial Day? For some, it is festivities. For others, it is cookouts, celebrations, pool parties, or a day off from work. For others, it is a time of remembrance, honoring those brave American men and women who have protected our country. For me, and especially during this time of national crisis, it is a time of thanksgiving. For me, Memorial Day is a day of reflection on where ordinary Americans have made extraordinary sacrifices in defending our nation’s freedom.
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971 by President Lyndon Johnson. Since World War I, including the continued “War on Terror,” 626,310 American lives have been lost to conflict.
Some Gave All
World War I – The average life expectancy for soldiers serving in the trenches was approximately six weeks.
World War II – During the D-day invasion, 2,000 paratroopers faced 345,000 bullets, across an area of sky covering nine squares miles. The chances of survival were 1 in 4.
Vietnam War – The life expectancy was roughly around one year, five months, and three weeks.
Some Don’t Understand
Over the last 20 years, and especially exemplified during this national crisis, some Americans have lost “their way.” For many, the idea of armed conflict is babbling unfounded opinions on social media. Far removed from reality, from Capital Hill to Cherry Street, many in our nation take our freedom for granted; their sense of understanding is a thin as the hot sand our soldiers call “home” in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Suddenly, the word nationalism has become a synonym for radicalism by the Left. On December 8, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on the rallying of our nation to fight against Imperial Japan after the savage attack that took the lives of 2,403 Americans at Pearl Harbor.
During World War II, nationalism defeated Nazism. Today, liberals encourage Americans to abandon our country’s love in favor of political patronage of government. Democratic President John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Today, Democrats have reworded this phrase to Americans. For many, they ask, “What else can our country do for me?”
This change in stance and ideology has dismantled our country and divided our people. No longer do most Americans know of sacrifice. The image of the country before self has rotted by the rhetoric of today’s liberals. The Left is selling our freedom to the highest bidder, our liberty left to chance.
Today, as our nation fights a disease, we should stop what we are doing, drop to our knees, thank our Lord, and our Laborers of Liberty. As those in our country are battling coronavirus, the brave men and women in the United States military are fighting against an enemy who’s lethality is unmatched. Human hatred cannot be cured by healthcare and freedom is not free!
So, I Ask You Again.
What are you thankful for on Memorial Day?
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