January 2011 Navy
By LCDR Steven Rogers
As we enter into this New Year of 2011, many of us will be reflecting on the past and making resolutions toward the future. In the multitude of resolutions we will be making and, for the most part, breaking, I believe it is appropriate for all Americans not to break this one resolution –– always to remember our military veterans.
There is a special sadness that accompanies the remembering of our servicemen and women during the times we live today.
For those Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and may I add their families, who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy today, it seems that they receive so little in return and that their service to this great country has been at times forgotten.
President Reagan once said: “We see these veterans today sitting with us as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray haired. But most of them were young men and women when they served. They gave up two lives — the one they were living and the one they would have lived had they not gone to war to defend our country. Many of them gave up their chance to be husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, and grandfathers and grandmothers. They gave up everything for those of us who walk on this precious piece of real estate called America. Many gave their lives for those who will be born into future generations, who like you and me, will walk on the land of the free and home of the brave in their time.”
A few years ago, I asked a group of veterans what would be the one wish they would like to see granted before their final march begins from the sunset of this great nation over the horizon into the heavenly realm. “What can we do for you?” I asked.
The multitude of men and women looked at me straight in the eyes and replied:
Please remember!
All of you reading this article, can remember; and let us resolve, in this new year, to remind others to remember. We can remember when we see Old Glory flying from sea to shining sea, on school buildings, town halls, on houses and on churches.
We can remember when we see that man and woman sitting next to you... who in their younger years gave all they could give so that we can live under the red, white and blue.
We can remember when we see a veteran walking in a mall, on the street, or in a supermarket, with a baseball cap over his/her gray hair, that it is that man or woman who in his or her younger years stormed beaches, marched through jungles, sailed on seas, and flew through violent air, fighting the good fight of faith to preserve the liberty and freedom we enjoy today.
We can remember that we are surrounded today by heroes and that we owe them a great debt that we can never repay.
All we can do is remember those who served and what they did and why they had to be brave for us, for our children and for future generations of Americans.
As we journey into the year 2011, let us look back at years past; and, as never before, remember the things that they did and pass their heroic history onto our children and grandchildren so that they, too, will remember.
We must never forget that a nation’s character is judged by the way it treats its veterans and its military. I am proud to say that the AUSN has treated America’s veterans well because we have always remembered.