The price of freedom

I’ll bet you don’t know Memorial Day's origin?
That’s OK. Not a lot of us do.
To some it’s just another day to shop or play.
Historically, it was started by freed slaves.
They honored the Union troops who freed them.
The last Monday in May has become a holiday.
It is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of others.
Those who paid the price for our freedoms.

I recently visited Arlington Cemetery - again.
This time it was with 100 World War II veterans.
These men had made countless sacrifices for all of us.
It was a memorable experience.
Just listening to them talk about the war.
Seeing tears in their eyes for fallen comrades.

I watched a movie Sunday about World War I.
The story was from the German side of the lines.
Soldiers on both sides of any war pay high prices.
This should not put us in sympathy with the enemy.
The jihadists are determined to end our way of life.
To take our freedoms and impose their ways on us.
It should strengthen us to know they are only men.
Deceived men whose leaders mislead them.
That is their weakness and our strength.

You see what is going on in the Moslem world today.
The idea of freedom is stronger than ever.
Let us commit to preserve that idea, to nurture it.
That is my Memorial Day challenge to you.
Remind your friends why we are as free as we are.

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