Freedom: Priceless
May 30, 2011
solemn. poignant. somehow fitting.
the irish brigade memorial at gettysburg
an excerpt from the Gettysburg Address:
“The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1965. our 16th president of the United States.
look at the faces in this video. we remember with great gratitude all those who served and gave their lives so that this great land could be free. and we pray for the families across the country who grieve this weekend for the loss of their dear one.
‘tears in heaven’ by eric clapton
sacred ground — honor, courage, sacrifice.
‘arlington’ by trace atkins
the price paid for freedom in blood and treasure is high and painful. but the return is priceless: freedom to live and thrive and pursue happiness as we choose. as always, a thank you to those who have served and those who serve today.
blackfive has an incredible post of fallen heroes personal to him. go read it and be inspired by their sacrifice.
** this post was originally published in 2009 and has been updated. kate
Posted in heroes, holidays, military, patriotism
'a wise man's heart directs him toward the right but a foolish man's heart directs him toward the left'
ecclesiastes 10:2
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May 24th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Really? First of all some of us in the country aren’t quite as militaristic as you. Sorry that kids died? Of course. But a hell of lot sorryer that Bush sent them to die.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:31 am
hey kenny if you please, memorial day isn’t about you or your politics. creep.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:14 am
I’ve seen that momument at Gettysburg. It’s more then impressive. Solumn ground.
May 24th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
not to take anything away from our war dead … but just as a recognition of the hardship our allies have also endured …
the cemetary at Leningrad is … um … impressive is not the right word …
picture mound after mound of mass graves, some marked as civilian, some marked as military.
verdun is impressive too, but that is all military
May 24th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Kenny;
“But a hell of lot sorryer that Bush sent them to die.”
Kenny, they volunteered because they saw the same need and reason to go as their commander and chief. No one sent them anywhere.
They proudly saw what needed to be done and were under no misconception as to what it would involve or what the reason was.
Take your lying crap somewhere else today.
May 24th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I have to say it wasn’t quite the same this year without seeing Rolling Thunder pull up to the White House and Arne and W goofing. I miss that.
Somehow, Rolling Thunder doesn’t seem to be Obambi’s cup of tea.
May 24th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Nah, I’ll bet its more like Obama isnt Rolling Thunders cup o tea.
Almost no one uses Sissy bars anymore
May 24th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Please do not confuse the scumbag Kenny with me, ok?
Kenny this post and Memorial Day isn’t about you, it’s about the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice so that people like you can hide behind your computer terminal and say what you want.
Thank you to all of those who have died to give us all the rights that we take so often for granted.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Oh Brother!!! I feel like I am at a cemetery! I have an appreciation for the military however life is for the living.
May 24th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Truly tasteless Pennie….yet not surprising at all coming from you.
May 24th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
pennie
one of the great things about having a blog is that i decide what i put on it, what i talk about, and on holidays like memorial day (which is one of my favorite) how i choose to honor it.
it doesn’t matter to me one bit if you like it or not because you Pennie are a selfish cow.
don’t bother to comment again unless it is respectful.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
life is for the living,
largely because these men and women died for you. this is not to be confused with veteran’s day, which celebrates all veterans or patriots’ day which simply celebrates patriots.
surely you can be grateful to those who literally gave their lives for you for one day?
unless of course you are not a usa citizen, which would explain a lot actually.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
if that seemed harsh, it really was not meant to be, just an explanation.
if you ” feel like (you are) at a cemetery” it is because this holiday is not for the “appreciation for the military”, that would be more akin to veterans’s day or patriots’ day.
it is specifically for our war dead. many people have family members who have died in wars and many more have veterans in their families that take this VERY seriously. i am from a military family. they do not take memorial day lightly, they lost too many friends.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
btw, n. korea tested a nuke
May 24th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
“however life is for the living.”
Soooo…
where does that leave you and the rest of the Obama zombies ?
May 24th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
“surely you can be grateful to those who literally gave their lives for you for one day?”
I wouldnt count on it. I think instead they want posthumous prosecutions for any vet who waterboarded anyone during WW11.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Micky,
many people actually do not know what memorial day is for. she very likely just thought it was just “appreciating the military” as opposed to honoring the dead.
May 24th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
I love celtic crosses and that one is particularly beautiful but why is there a dog (?) at the base of it? Anyone?
May 24th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
it is an irish wolf hound, waiting for its owner to return
for some reason, perhaps based on fact, there are folk tales of pets waiting for their owners to return and even dying when they do not return. it is a particularly popular story told in irish families — again, perhaps based on facts.
i was always told that my grandparents had a cat that was particularly fond of my grandfather. the day my grandfather died the cat was never seen again.
May 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
PenniePan: Since I have been given the responsibility to monitor Kate’s blog for the next day, I deleted your last comment because it was unacceptable on such an important American holiday.
It is strange PenniePan that you come here multiple times a day as evidenced by Kate’s sitemeter yet act as if you have no clue as to what she is about or what is important to her. So much so that you pen comments like the one I just flushed.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:00 am
now see …
i tried to give her the benefit of the doubt
and encouraged her to play nice.
in contrast, my father, who volunteered for the korean war at 17 but never saw action, has refused to be buried in a veterans cemetary, because he really just does not feel comfortable being buried with men who saw action. he feels a little out of place with them.
what can i say, my dad is tops.
May 25th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Give em a hug, tell him I said hi, and thanks.
May 25th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Blah, blah, blah. I hate that Trace Atkins’ voice. He sounds as if he is straight from rehab or something. OOPS sorry Micky.
Callahan did you win that case? I bet not, that’s why you have little patience with poor Pennie.
May 25th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Well, the way I see it as long as Callahan can delete any comment Callahan wants to Callahan is always going to be the winner.
Thank you Callahan for keeping that deranged moonbats vile bile off this thread today.
Jared.
I rehabilitate vets who have life threatening problems that at least have an explanation and proud reason behind them. They’re man enough to admit to and tackle their problems.
Whats yours and Pennies excuse ?
May 25th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
“Whats yours and Pennies excuse ?”
It’s Bush’s fault!!!!!!!!!!
That being said, I think it’s wonderful that you work with vets, Micky. I never pass up an opportunity to thank them when it comes around.
May 25th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Morris your comment was deleted by me. It didn’t even make it out of moderation buddy.
May 25th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
PenniePan for the sake of lengthy argument, I prefer not to email you. Kate can choose to or not when she gets back. Let me assure you however, she writes like she talks and if I were you, I wouldn’t mess with her because she will, eventually, kick your ass. I am sure you understand even though others may not.
May 25th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I got dibbs on ringside.
Ken.
Whats really sad is that most of their abuse is due to the way they’ve been treated when they get back as opposed to the rabid rumors that its their tours that screwed them up.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
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June 3rd, 2011 at 1:01 am
kate,
come back to us!
June 4th, 2011 at 7:15 am
lisab said, “Many people actually do not know what memorial day is for. she very likely just thought it was just ‘appreciating the military’ as opposed to honoring the dead.”
True! Many people are not being taught what Memorial Day is; and many other things for that matter! >: / It’s very sad (and very bad - ’cause it will get us all in the end)
June 27th, 2011 at 9:35 pm
Just had Marine Week in St. Louis! It was great to see all the marines & their equipment. The 24 hour guard at the War Memorial was touching as well…