|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The American Legion - Post 72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home |
|
|
Contact Us |
|
|
Page of Links |
|
Auxiliary Unit 72 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome |
|
2006/2007 Oratorical Competition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oratorical Contest |
|
Photo Albums |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterans Memorial |
|
|
Pete Landolt Meeting |
|
For Active Duty Military |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Military / Overseas Voters |
|
|
Current National News |
|
Interactive |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mailing List |
|
|
Calendar |
|
|
Discussion Forum |
|
|
Survey |
|
Veteran's Day 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterans Day 04 Photos |
|
Veterans Day 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Veterans Day 2003 |
|
Misc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tribute to Mr. Bob Hope |
|
|
|
|
|
Sitemap |
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
Scott Holleran English III-5 Ms. Scoggins 22 September 2003 Peace, Peace—but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"1 -- Patrick Henry This cry of Patrick Henry, one of the great patriots and founding fathers of this United States of America, is echoed down through the halls of time in every generation that comes to see conflict and strife. It is the same brave and courageous men that Patrick Henry is here calling to arms, that we come to salute on this our Veterans' Day. These men and women are to be commended for their sense of duty, "...the sublimest word in the language. You can never do more than your duty. You should never wish to do less."2 That the famous General Robert E. Lee could make such a statement as this only proves the dedication of our fighting forces in the past as well as the present. The fact is though, none of these people of the past will ever know the sacrifices given in later wars, nor can they ever know what Veterans' Day means to me. A debt is owed to all those who have given their lives, limbs, time, money, and love of their country, for the causes which impel our nation to go into battle. The fact that I am able to praise our men and women in this country openly and under God's name is only due to the liberties that they have allowed us through their sacrifice. The faith of our forefathers and of my countrymen can be expressed openly, freely, and without fear. For this I honor you, and ask that God might bless you and your children. My feelings, though, run deeper, beyond thankfulness and thoughtfulness, into my emotions of love, care, and kindness, that Veterans today might know the depth of my earnestness. I believe that, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."3 The words of the greatest teacher of all time revere veterans past and present, living and dead. The fact that a person would even dream of putting their life on the line in order to preserve my freedom and comfort is unfathomable to me. Even more so when they have never met the future generations that they are serving most. This is why I stand here today, to thank veterans who have beside one another in camaraderie and facing the enemy, forever immortalizing themselves as heroes unintended as it may be. In your footsteps should every man wish to follow. Not merely that they can suffer or die, but that they would be willing to tow the line and push back the evil that inhabits this world. Our liberties are safe for now, but what of the future? You veterans have served well, setting a high standard and an unattainable example, and we will follow you as each generation must. We will fight for our children's liberties and freedoms. We will fight to preserve our homes and ideals. We will fight without thinking of ourselves or our lives. We will fight not to kill but to preserve because we must fight and press forward holding high our banner. We will do all these things out of strength given to us by you, our veterans. It is from the ideals you handed down and the sacrifice you made that we are able. You are our heritage. For you, we will continue the fight because "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."4 You have given us that something to fight for, and to that we shall remain true. 1) Patrick Henry 2) Robert E. Lee 3) Jesus Christ 4) John Stuart Mills |
|
||||||
