As we approach the dawn of 2007, we Americans find ourselves
living in a very dangerous world, and like so many times before, the
brave men and women of our armed forces have stepped up to answer
their nation's call by willingly putting themselves in harm's way on
foreign soil so the rest of us can live in peace and freedom back here in the
homeland. We owe each and every one of them a debt we can never
repay.
Since there has been no active "draft" for many years, each and
every one of these fighting men and women are doing their difficult
and dangerous jobs as volunteers. Some question their intelligence
and ability to make a decent living in the "real world", hence the
recent shameful comment about them "getting stuck in Iraq".
But anyone who
has even the slightest clue about the quality and dedication of
these brave individuals knows better.
Is it "smart" to volunteer to serve on a foreign battlefield where
your comrades are dying on a daily basis? Probably not, if you
happen to be one of those who feel no obligation to help protect our unique freedom and way
of life. But for those who are proudly serving - and those
who soon will be - it is indeed "smart" to do whatever they can to
help make the world a better place and preserve the freedoms granted
to us by our almighty God and protected for some 230 years by the
blood and sacrifice of their predecessors.
The fact of the matter is, our military personnel make up the
brightest, most highly educated fighting force on the face of the
planet. Intelligence and education level have nothing whatsoever to
do with their decision to answer the call to service. It's all about Duty,
Honor, Country - something that far too many among us apparently
know nothing about.
About the photo: Marine Captain Jason E. Hale looks out over
Traffic Control Point Flea at Al Asad, Iraq on October 24, 2006. Capt. Hale,
a native of Detroit, Michigan, is the commander of 1st Platoon, India
Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 3rd Low Altitude Air
Defense Battalion, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd
Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). The picture was taken by Lance Cpl. James
B. Hoke.
A Special note: On November 10, 1775, the
United States Marine
Corps was created by a resolution of the Continental Congress.
Over the course of the 231 years that followed, Marine blood has
been shed all over the world in defense of liberty and our great
nation. That tradition of selfless sacrifice continues today in Iraq
and other hot spots around the globe. To the men and women of the
Marine Corps, I simply say "Thank you, and happy birthday".
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