My mom sent me a forwarded email the other day. I have to confess I don’t often read forwarded emails from anybody but if I’m going to read them from someone, I’ll read them from Mom. This one was about Memorial Day and it really made me stop and think…are we today really grateful for the sacrifices those of yesterday made on our behalf? Sadly I think we often take them for granted. And even more sadly, I think the very freedoms they fought for are slowly being eroded. But that is a topic for another day.
My grandfathers both served in WW II. One guarded prisoners and the other was a cook. I have never stopped to think much about the role they played in securing our way of life over 60 years ago. But it is important, essential even to our very existence. As much as I enjoy speaking German, since it is part of my heritage, I don’t think I would like it quite so well if I had to speak it. Interestingly a friend told me the other day that during the Revolution, German was the other official language being considered for the US. They didn’t want to speak English– understandably there wasn’t a warm fuzzy between them and the parent country at the time. Alas, I digress.
In the aforementioned email, there is a cartoon that especially struck me. A man is grilling burgers and such and comments, “Burgers, brats, hotdogs…is there anything I forgot?” While above him is a picture of servicemen and women, many who have given their lives to defend our way of life. Yet I must admit that I don’t often think of them on this of all days. And my husband served in the Air Force for more than 21 years. I would like to change that. For my children’s sake. For my country’s sake.
Often I read in the Bible that we parents are responsible to pass down our history to our children. I realize that scripture is talking about what the Lord has done for His people and yes, that trumps American History any day. But I think we should not neglect teaching our kids accurate American history based on original documents when at all possible. History in most schools is not what it used to be. It is more politically correct and contrived than actual fact. We wouldn’t want to offend anybody. And while I realize that bias is inevitable,and we are far from perfect there is nothing wrong with exhibiting modest (as opposed to boastful) national pride. Have we made mistakes? Of course, but we can still be proud of who we are and of our godly heritage. So many of us are so busy with things that seem important at the time, but we truly do need to take a moment, hopefully more than once a year, to remind our kids of all we have because of all these heroic individuals gave. Without them, all of our lives would be drastically different.
If you need some resources (and I’m not in any way affiliated with this company nor do I receive any compensation from them) you might be interested in wallbuilders.com. They have some really great books based on original sources about many people who shaped our nation; even gave their lives for it in some instances and yet are virtually unknown today. I know I am a history buff, but I think we all need to be in some capacity. We need to be grateful. Not just Memorial Day but every day. Grateful that the men and women of the past thought that things such as ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ were worth giving their lives for. Grateful that we are still, one nation under God.
Decidedly Different 