When we assumed the Soldier, we did not lay aside the Citizen

George Washington

They also serve who only stand and wait

John Milton

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

William Shakespeare: King Henry V

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE

I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze
A young soldier saluted it, and then
He stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many Pilots' planes shot down?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No Freedom isn't free

I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard at the
bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.....
No -- Freedom isn't free!!

Author Unknown

An American Patriot

I am an American Patriot.
I believe in the United States of America.
There are few things as sacred to me as
Duty, Honor, Country, Flag.
My heroes are the men and women in uniform
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard
Active, Reserve, Past, Present, Future.
When I was growing up, patriotism was respected.
Serving your country was respected.
Our flag was respected.
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen; all respected.
Veterans were respected.
Thank God that, for some of us,
This will never change.
I was a soldier. I am a veteran.
I will always be...
An American Patriot.

Author Unknown

Since this website is ultimately about genealogy and immigrants I'd like to mention two naturalized American citizens:
Marine Corporals Jose Angel Garibay and Jose Gutierrez. Both of these Marines, like many of our brothers and sisters, (in the words of President Lincoln) "gave the last full measure of devotion" to their adopted country. I think that sacrifice deserves all the honor we can bestow on them (especially citizenship).

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell

Semper Fi Marines!!!

Song: Rally Round The Flag: Midi file sequenced by unknown.

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