11/10/2014
I’m posting this early for Veterans Day. I thought Tammy covered it all very well.
FREEDOM’S NOT FREE by Tammy Allen Stubblefield, Lufkin, Texas and copied by permission
Veterans Day is an official United States holiday that honors people who have served in the Armed Forces, also known as veterans. It’s a federal holiday observed on November 11th. It’s not to be confused with Memorial Day, while it’s a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving. With this day set aside, we have an obligation and duty as Americans to take this day and reflect on the sacrifices of those who have served in the past and the ones serving now in the present.
We as a country often take for granted our freedom. We’re mostly focused on selfish and material things – a flashy new car, building our mansions, wearing the best clothes and winning at every event in our lives. We idolize movie stars, athletes and performers.
We easily forget the cost others had to give in order for us to enjoy the good things in life.
Freedom was not free; someone paid, and paid dearly. The real heroes are quietly all around us. They ask nothing while knowing in their heads and hearts the sacrifices that they, and others, have made for us to live in this freedom. Some have seen unbearable things. Some have broken bodies and haunted dreams—flashbacks engraved in their minds forever while leaving them with a deeper appreciation for our country’s freedom and what it really took to get it.
Veterans are all around us, if we would just open our eyes to see. They’re our neighbor living down the street, a family member, someone you work with, a church member, and some are living in nursing homes –simply forgotten.
So let us honor them by showing our love for each other and our country. Let’s have pride and stand up for what is right in everything we see going on around us—whether it’s casting our votes at the poll, getting involved with our schools or standing up together for righteousness in our neighborhoods, workplace or home. This country needs more morality and respect for each other, so we can stand together strong on the same team, instead of against each other and fall.
No, freedom is not free; someone always has to pay. Take this day to thank a veteran and appreciate their sacrifices made.
