American Gratitude

From July 9, 2004

When considering the question from the last family newsletter of living in different eras of time, I was intrigued, yet left with a continuing thought that nagged at me, regardless of which time period I thought about. A world immersed in one battle or another was discouraging to me.

There is one time period, for example, that I don’t need to guess what my life would have been like. Had I come of age in the 1940s, I know exactly what I would have done. I would have entered nursing school with my friends, and, knowing my penchant for tropical places, would have put my skills to good use for the military in Hawaii. Living in that time, I would likely have ended up treating patients during the second World War at Pearl Harbor.

This is precisely why I chose not to “live” in that time period. I did not want to grow up to such a state of war, or live to see the atrocities and devastation caused by such wars. I knew that if I was single, I would put myself right in the thick of the action, where I could best serve those who needed it most.

War is not unique to this century, however. There are many periods in the history of the world when wars raged and battles were fought. Sometimes it seems the human race will never ‘grow up’ and get past killing each other. War is such a cruel and ugly thing. Though our country is currently battling a war on foreign soil that it will likely never win, I am continuously and forever grateful that I do not have to be in the ‘thick of the action’—that there are those who will fight for me, to protect my home, my rights, my country.

Let’s remember that as human beings, we are all on the same side. We all want to enjoy the basic privileges of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of race or nationality. Because war may always be with us in one capacity or another, it should serve as a reminder that we have our freedom because of those who fought to preserve it for us.

Let’s be grateful for those who fight so that we can maintain our inalienable rights. Be appreciative and proud of your heritage, and those who have defended it. As one web-site recently stated: “In every generation there have been those who answered the call to defend freedom... All gave some. Some gave all. They were with us then. They are with us now… God bless the men and women of the military.”