Memorial Day was on my mind today so I have this to share with you:
This was something I did for my Public Speaking class at university in Summer Quarter 2006. This is called "To the American Soldier." I feel it still resonates today even though it is about eight years old. I got an A for this speech by the way.
"I know what honour is...It has been an honour to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to...Never falter! Don't hesitate to honour and support those of us who have the honour of protecting that which is worth protecting." That was from Staff Sergeant Dan Clay, United States Marine Corps, killed fighting in Fallujah.
"I would like to tell everyone how much their support for us out here means to the men and women of the military. To know that the majority of the American public stands with us through this difficult time means the world to us. We never ask for anything in return but a 'Thank you' goes a long way. It justifies the hardships that we have to endure for the liberty and freedom that we have so long had...Everyone has their own thought of this war but whatever it is please keep supporting the troops because you never know when it could be your son, daughter, cousin or friend that is out here protecting your freedom." That was from Senior Airman Schnuelle, United States Air Force, of Metaire, Louisiana.
"Thank you for your support, it is nice to know that the folks back home care about all of us. All of your efforts are appreciated, from the 4th of July show we watched here on AFN, to the small packages that we receive from individuals and communities. It is an honour to serve our nation, and it gives me great pride in my country to know that we get supported by people like you. Thanks again from Al Asad AB, Iraq." That was from Captain Doug Wagner, Army National Guard originally from Lincoln, Nebraska.
Those were from American soldiers in the field.
This is to the American Soldier.
For protecting our freedoms and ensuring that every American is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, from the moment we declared ourselves independent in 1776 in Philadelphia, to the battlefields of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Trenton, Princeton, and Yorktown: this is to the American Soldier.
For helping to preserve this Union of States through our most difficult hour, to preserve this nation, and to free those in the chains of slavery: this is to the American Soldier.
For aiding Europe and Asia in protecting freedom and opposing tyranny and fascism, from the trenches in the Sonne, to the skies above Britain, to the beaches of Normandy, to the Ardennes, to Sicily, to the bloody terrain in Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Tarawa, to the jungles of Malaya, Singapore, the Philippines: this is to the American Soldier.
For fighting back the oppression of communism from a brutal Stalinist regime to their border on the 38th Parallel, and securing freedom in South Korea, while the world forgets your efforts: this is to the American Soldier.
For returning back home to be disrespected, dishonoured, spat upon by protesters, considered "baby-killers" (as a whole from the actions of a few), for having to endure that for nearly the rest of the 1970s before the country once again respected you for doing the best you could in Vietnam, and still keeping your head up through all of this: this is to the American Soldier.
For going once again to fight, to removing oppressive regimes in Panama and Grenada, and restoring democratic governments, for removing the army of an aggressive, cruel dictator in the Middle East from Kuwait, and for restoring the respect and vindication of the United States Armed Forces: this is to the American Soldier.
For protecting our country from terrorist attacks, by bringing the fight to the turf of the terrorists, in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Georgia, Yemen, and elsewhere; for removing brutal regimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and creating governments with ratified constitutions: this is to the American Soldier.
For enduring countless attacks from insurgents, who have no regard for any life so long as it's not their type of Muslim, for staying tough and fighting back hard to remove terrorists from these two countries: this is to the American soldier.
For staying there to help finish the job and for coming back from tours of duty only to be greeted by people who do not understand your mission, who consider all of the military to not have any regard for human life, when it is again only in the case of a few and not of the many; for enduring this disrespect because you know that it is because of you, the American Soldier, that these people are given a free press, free speech, the right to peaceably assemble and demonstrate, the right to a fair and speedy trial, and to burn the flag, all whilst the American Soldier salutes the flag, serves under the flag, and has his coffin draped by the flag: this is to the American Soldier.
For being devoted to Honour, Duty, and Country, that was to them.
That was to the American Soldier.
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Thank you to all the veterans, past and present, for your service. For those who have passed on, you are not forgotten, and may you always rest in peace. *salutes*
