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A Salute to Defenders of Freedom
On this Memorial Day, 2016
There is an old saying “If you have to ask the price of something, you probably can’t afford it.” That’s pretty good advice, especially when you can’t put a price tag on it. Truth, honesty, and courage are three concepts that come to mind. Justice is another. We often call them values that are deserving of assimilation by each of us. Once assimilated, they become guiding principles by which we try to live our lives. But they are personal, and they are not readily apparent unless something or someone challenges us to demonstrate that they are part of our belief system. I don’t think we can show any of those virtues simply by saluting the flag of our nation, or by singing God Bless America, or by praying alone or in public. Such acts and recitations are designed to help make them a part of our beliefs without the pain, or the suffering, or the sacrifice in time spent in service to others. That is why we honor those who gave their lives in the defense of another concept that exceeds those four virtues in glory, in honor, and in commitment. That concept is freedom.
Freedom is something we give each other. It is a way of life. When I respect you enough to grant you the space to live free from my interference, I am honoring freedom. When I pause while you salute the flag, or sing the national anthem, or while you pray, I am honoring your right to do all those things. Those rights are part of freedom. When I say “hello,” I am acknowledging your presence in a friendly way, and even that small gesture is a part of freedom. If I comfort or console someone who needs it, I am honoring their pursuit to heal; if I teach a child the correct way of doing something, I am encouraging that child to become more than he or she is; and when I try to be a better husband, father, brother, neighbor, or citizen I am doing a small part to make my family, my community, and my country a better place so that freedom can prevail.
There are also thousands of ways in which I can dishonor freedom. If I should trash truth, honesty, justice, or courage I am spitting on freedom. If I encourage others to do the same, I am a carrier of dishonor.
Few of us will ever come face to face with a moment that will test our commitment to freedom; a moment when we must put our lives between death and freedom; when there is nothing to fall back on but truth, honesty, courage, or justice. We choose to honor those who are willing to die in defense of freedom because we have a need deep in our souls to believe we will do the same—whenever we are challenged to do so, in war or peace, at any time or place. Others have said it better: Freedom is not free. Its price is eternal vigilance.
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Ron
Love ya!
Jane