Natural Elevation

Aug. 20, 2006

I Finally Got It

Yesterday we went to an Air Show in Burlington, VT celebrating the 60^th year of the Vermont Air National Guard. During the day of spectacular air events there was a swearing-in ceremony for several young Americans joining the military service. Naturally as a mother of 41 years these soon-to-be soldiers looked like children to me. After their swearing-in they walked toward their vehicle to the sound of solemn heartfelt applause and music from the sound system. People clapped as they walked well out of range and boarded their vehicle. That’s when I got it.

I wondered how many of these man-child soldiers would be returning from their service unhurt. For the first time I understood the real price Americans pays for our freedoms. It made my freedoms so much more dear and precious to me. It made me question ever resting on the work already done or feeling complacent when people are out there in the world every day, even at this very moment, defending American rights and putting themselves in harm's way, in every line of duty, whether actually engaged in battle or not. It made me more resolute to never lay lax or take for granted any of our freedom.

My freedoms are paid for with lives. Let me never give up praying and being vigilant in honor of those lives.

Related Tags: America, patriotism, war, prayer, soldiers

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Aug. 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by twimmer

I served for 13 years in the US Navy from 1977 to 1990. During one six month deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans the battle group (group of about 10 ships) I was with made naval history by not losing a single man during the six month deployment. This had never happened before. Even in peace time, men and women put themselves in harms way to protect the freedoms we all too often take for granted.

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Aug. 21, 2006 - Thank you, Tad

Posted by AmoScribo

...for those thoughts. I have reflected them in an addition to my post.
Allison

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Aug. 21, 2006 - Boys in the Line

Posted by

Something that I have not been able to come to grips with is having 5 boys that could end up in the line of fire.
Having come out of the 60's there are so many signals that cross circut in my brain regarding obligation for military service.
I served voluntarily at 17 for all the wrong reasons. The war was almost over but I really hadn't thought much about my role.
When I read stories about 20,000 men dying in an invasion and think, what if one of those was one of mine. I just can't fathom the grief that people feel, then and now. I don't want to.
Thank God we don't have to live in a world that Hitler, or Stalin, dictated to us. Thank God that Saddam, sitting their smugly today in court, as he was being tried for the genocide of 200,000 people, was a prisoner and not the leader of the Arab world in war against us.

Edited by ScottCosta on Aug. 21, 2006 at 3:23 PM

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Aug. 21, 2006 - Yes, it's terrifying...

Posted by AmoScribo

We have to have faith in God's will for our sons' lives.
We had a very good friend say something difficult for many to understand:
"If one of my sons dies defending those freedoms, so be it. It will be the worst thing that's ever happened to me, personally..."

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Aug. 26, 2006 - Thank you

Posted by theheartofthehome

for posting these words and your experience and thoughts. We are military, my husband is a Chaplain. I never get used to seeing these young men and women and their faces. For some of them, I am could be their mother!
Thank you for remembering our soldiers and remembering them in your prayers. Out of all the things we could give to our military, prayer is the best.
Blessings,
Janet (visit my blog at The Heart of the Home)
Visit the Military HomeFront Support Our Nation

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Aug. 27, 2006 - Yup! You DO get it! *S*

Posted by military

And this says it all...My freedoms are paid for with lives. Let me never give up praying and being vigilant in honor of those lives.

As the wife of an active duty man and a 12 year AF veteran myself, thank you! Prayer is the best thing you can give us. We at the Home Front appreciate your prayers for our families and all our military!
Join us every week for Patriotic Friday!
God Bless!

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We homeschool our 6 children in rural Vermont. Our horse family consists of a black pony and an off-track Thoroughbred. We give Jesus the praise and God the glory for all the victories in this life. I have an eye on and my heart in eternity.

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I love Vermont because of her hills and valleys, the scenery and invigorating climate. But most of all because of her indomitable people. They are a race of pioneers who almost beggared themselves for others.

If the spirit of liberty should vanish from the rest of the Union, and our institutions should languish, it all could be restored by the generous store held by the people in this brave little State of Vermont.

from Calvin Coolidge Address
Delivered at North Bennington, Vermont
September 22, 1928