The National Virtual Memorial

By Mike Gardner on Jun 10, 2008

you are welcome to use the following in any way which is beneficial. (I linked from Melissa Sewell.)
I originally wrote the following around Memorial Day, 2000 and have updated it since. Thank you for helping to keep me free.

AT THE RIGHT TIME, WE REMEMBER

The honor roll goes back farther than we can remember; it contains names we will never know…

I wasn’t there when the American Colonial Army stood winter guard in the snows of Valley Forge wearing bloody rags for boots as they fought for my freedom.

I wasn’t there in the war of 1812.

I wasn’t in the trenches when the German’s seared the lungs of young American men with mustard gas as they fought for my freedom in World War One.

I wasn’t at Pearl Harbor when a single Japanese bomb detonated a million pounds of black powder on the Arizona and instantaneously killed over one thousand American sailors preparing to defend my freedom against the Japanese and the Nazis.

I wasn’t there to see the Stars and Stripes raised over the beaches of Normandy, or on the heights of Iwo Jima.

I didn’t see the bullet riddled bodies of the Americans who died defending my freedom in Korea.

I only vaguely remember the nightly news clips of American soldiers as they carried out our government’s orders in the jungles, swamps, tunnels, rivers and skies of Vietnam.

I haven’t endured the moments, and months, of not knowing, while I prayed for a child’s or a spouse’s safe return, and raised a family alone. I’ve not dropped everything to help my spouse through rehab after they were wounded in service, and chosen to maintain my commitment to them for the rest of our lives despite PTSD and amputations.

I have never been with a family who lost a son or a daughter, or a daddy, or a mommy defending Kuwait, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

I wasn’t there with any of them when they suffered as prisoners of war in any of these wars.

I have never been with a family whose child died in a peace time military training exercise.

Not every one of our veterans saw combat. Some were clerks, cooks, mechanics, and machinists. Some served during war time, some served during peace time, some serve in peace today, ready for battle tomorrow. Today they prepare for the ongoing war against terrorists. IED? Not a concern for my daily survival. Some gave their lives, some suffered wounds, some saw things that no human should ever have to see, and many did things that no human should ever have to do. Some are the doctors and nurses and orderlies who treat our wounded, console their families, and go home and cry for them. PTSD? I’ve never walked there. Yet all of these gave their daily life, for a period of time, while many more gave their time to work in the industries that sustained our veterans.

Not all of those who have protected my freedom were even in the military. Some of them were the firemen, policemen, and paramedics who risked their lives each day, rushing in where most of us would never tread. Some are civilian contractors truck driving in support convoys in war zones. Some of them were “just” passengers on a commercial airline flight who, with faith in Christ, calmly chose to fight, and die if necessary, rather than let Flight 93 be used as a weapon against their country and their fellow citizens.

When I tried to join the US Air Force, my application was turned down for medical reasons.

Because others were, and will be there, I am privileged to continue to live in the greatest nation the world has ever known and to enjoy the greatest freedoms that any people have ever known.

The honor roll stretches forward to times, and places, and names we will never know…

So I thank you, veteran, whoever you are, and wherever you are, whenever your service.

Thank you Vet. Thanks Dad. Today, I remember WHY I am free, and I thank you.

I know that when you were asked, at the right time, like Christ, you gave your life for me.

Romans 5:6-8
“While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man–though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Mike Gardner
Tulsa, OK

inte…@yahoo.com

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He heard my cry. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation. You will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. “The LORD be magnified, my help and my deliverer.” V from Psalms 40 http://www.memorialdrive.org http://www.tulsaworkshop.org/

By Mike Gardner on Jun 10, 2008

Can’t tell if you received that or not?