The real meaning of Memorial Day
5/14/2008 12:39 AM   0 comment(s) on this story E-mail this story to a friend



Memorial Day is about remembering those that have made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom, not about sales, cookouts and days off. Over 4,000 soldiers have made that sacrifice in Iraq, and 13 of them were mine. It is difficult to put a cost on our freedom, but Memorial Day is about honoring those that have paid that cost. We should remember them every day, not just once a year.

We should thank God every day we have brave men and women that are willing to give their lives so that we might live in freedom, because everyone enjoys the freedom our military provides. The world is full of people that want to take our freedom from us, but a strong military prevents them. I was part of the strongest military in the world for nearly 27 years and have served with soldiers from other countries, in peace, and in war, and there is nothing like an American soldier!

I wish I could live long enough to see world peace, but that won't happen. As long as we have people, we will have wars, and as long as we have wars, we will need warriors. And as long as we have warriors, some will die in combat.

I asked one of my new soldiers in Baghdad one day why he had joined the Army. He told me he had rather fight in Iraq and die for something, than stay at home and die for nothing. That's the American soldier! Those that have died in combat are all heroes, not because of how they died, but because of how they lived. May they rest in peace. Freedom is not free!

Ted Spain

Aiken

---

Share this story:

                           

• COPD: Breathe a little easier
• HPV: Every woman's concern
• FoodSchool 101: You really are what you eat
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy : Cutting edge wound healing
• Visit AikenRegional.com

• Wedding announcement form
• Engagement announcement form

• Sudoku
• BlogSpotter
• coming soon! - More stuff just for fun!
• Snopes.com - urban legends laid bare

• Wedding announcement form

• Callie Smith 10/13/2008 6:42 PM
  
• Hudson M. Ryals 10/13/2008 6:42 PM
  
• Paul Andrew Dahlen 10/13/2008 6:42 PM
  
• Thomas Holmes 10/13/2008 6:38 PM
  
• William E. 'Bill' Berry 10/13/2008 6:38 PM
  
• Hudson M. Ryals 10/12/2008 10:35 PM
  
• Kristin G. Morava 10/12/2008 10:35 PM
  
• Shirley Josephine Butera Hurt 10/12/2008 10:35 PM
  
• Peter Damian Fledderman 10/12/2008 10:34 PM
  
• Ruth Pearson 10/12/2008 10:31 PM