DO YOU LOVE AMERICA?

DO YOU LOVE AMERICA?

 

Do you love America?   What would you sacrifice for the survival of the United States of America? 

 

All who read these lines have been blessed so much.   You have freedom.   You have material gain and pleasures unknown to so many in the world.

 

So many have bled, suffered and died to give us what we all now enjoy.   Most of us have never been out anything at all for the security and preservation of our beloved land.

 

I have walked by many of the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C.    Those brave soldiers gave their all for me, my family and all Americans.   What have I given?

 

Oh, I pay taxes.    Out of my prosperity I have paid taxes.  For those taxes I get a world class military to protect me during the day and guard me as I sleep at night.   I get the police and fire departments which are  always ready on stand by to come to my aid.  I get a world class education system that has blessed my life and my family.   In old age I will get Social Security and for many Americans they will draw out far more than they paid.   I get great medical care.  There is a great social net to catch me if I fall into poverty and need help.   I have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and on and on I could go.   What a great Country!

 

I have known brave Veterans of WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and the current wars.   I have seen those who bare in their bodies terrible scars and disabilities.    Others carry great injury to their minds for life.   I have known children whose father's never came home.   I have seen marriages destroyed because soldiers that returned were never the same and thus their marriage was ended.  Those that died in war paid the ultimate price.   Those that survive and carry such pain pay for a lifetime.  When I see an injured veteran struggling to get out and do something, I go to them and thank them for their service.   My words of thanks seem small compared to what they have done.   I struggle to know what to do.

 

Some time ago, I was getting gas at the service station.   A man in a bay next to mine was crippled and he was getting out of his van and dropped his keys.   He had a brace on his body and canes he used but was unable to bend over.   He asked for my help.   I gladly assisted him.   As I walked around to the back and over to my car I noticed on his car tags, "Vietnam Veteran".   I went back, shook his hand and thanked him for his service to our Country.   He had tears and told me it meant a lot.    He then told me his story of pain and sorrow in Viet Nam.   He did not tell me of his personal tragedy but of his buddies who died and how he never can forget them.   He said only recently had he been able to talk about it all.   I led a prayer right then for him and his family and those that died in Viet Nam and their families.    The man is very special to me.

 

Such Veterans make me think and I am humbled by their presence.  God bless them, every one of them.

 

I think of THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE and these words:  "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine  providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred Honor."  Wow, what words!  That first generation of Americans risked everything and suffered great loss to give us our Nation.

 

So, what would you be willing to sacrifice for the United States of America?   Would you give up all your money?   Would you sign over your house, your car and all personal possessions.  Then, start over with no material things,  but have left the treasures of liberty of The United States Of America.

 

Old Glory faces many problems today.  There is greed, corruption in high offices of government, selfishness, immorality, and criminals.   But, such has always been true to some level.  As Americans we should always vote and express our concerns to our leaders about what is happening.  But, in the end, let us always bow our head in fervent prayer for this land we love, America.  Many say terrible things about our leaders and things happening in America.   Often those screaming the loudest do not even know what they are talking about.   But, they have the freedom to declare their ignorance if they so desire.  God bless America!

 

In America's hour of need, if we Americans are not willing to sacrifice everything including our lives to preserve our liberty then we will in the end, lose everything!

 

God bless THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

 

*Allen Ashlock, 2014