Memorial Day 2006

Once more, that special day we set aside every year to honor those heroes that put on a uniform and gave it all to protect our freedom, is upon us. This will be the first Memorial Day my family celebrates since the passing of LV Lunsford (My Father-in-Law) who served in the US Army during the Korean War. This year as we fire up our grills, or go to the big sale at the mall, we need to stop and think for a few minutes.

In the past 230 years, American soldiers have marched off to defend our way of life many times. Their trek into history began in 1773, fighting for independence from England. I wish I could say we were always completely in the right, but the facts are, that sometimes the issues and motivations were cloudy and questionable. We fought several "wars" with the Indians over land. In good conscience, I can't say those wars were justified, but I do know that they helped to build America's greater destiny.

We fought the English, a second time in 1812, never winning a single battle during the war, but, proving that we don't take kindly to being pushed around. For the trivia buffs out there that are about to send me a ton of emails, I need to point out that the "Battle of New Orleans" took place after the war ended.

Twice we fought Mexico, once as volunteers helping the Republic of Texas gain its independence, and the second time, to gain the West. A War of conquest, that on its face, would portray us as the villains, but I want to remind everyone, that all our "conquests" gained full statehood, and enjoy the same rights as every other part of the United States. Can you honestly see our nation without California or Utah or any of the other western states?

We fought for four bloody years among ourselves to decide the status of a segment of our society. There were lots of issues that resulted in half our nation seceding and the other half refusing to let them go. I am a Southerner, I point, with pride, to my ancestors that wore the gray, but I take just as much pride in my ancestor that rode to Missouri and donned a blue uniform.

We fought a war with Spain, after they blew up one of our ships (USS Maine). This was not a war of conquest it was a war of liberation. Our soldiers freed the people of Cuba and the Philippines. We fought and died, not for land, but for the love of freedom and in self defense.

Twice during the 20th century, our soldiers marched off to Europe. We didn't fight those wars to gain land, we fought them to protect freedom, other people's freedom. In 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, forcing us into a war with them. We could have fought the Japanese only, and not worried about the people of Europe, but that is not the American way. We fought in North Africa, Sicily, Greece, Italy and the European Continent, to protect freedom.

We opposed the tyranny of Communism in many skirmishes and battles. Twice, we opposed communism in open warfare. Winning once in Korea, and losing once in Vietnam.After the fall of Communism, we fought to protect the freedom of Moslems in Kuwait, Bosnia, Somalia and, yes, even in Lebanon. The fanatics of the region, continue to hate us and attack us, but it's still our soldiers that fight and die to protect them.

It was American soldiers who stormed the beaches of Tripoli, to end piracy. Our soldiers who fought and died by the thousands at Gettysburg, to end slavery. Our soldiers who stormed up San Juan hill to free Cuba and the Philippines. American soldiers who fought and died to break the stalemate of World War One. Americans stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima, Sicily and Normandy. American soldiers tore down the gates of Aushwitz and Dachau. It was American Marines dying during that frozen hell of Inchon. It was American boys who died during the Tet offensive. It was American vigilance that tore down that wall across Germany. Americans who died protecting the people of Lebanon, Kuwait, Somalia, and dozens of other small, forgotten spots.

This Memorial Day, American forces are still fighting in Iraq and Afghanstan. They are fighting the forces of Fanatical Religious Hatred. They are fighting in Baghdad, Fallajuh, Kirkuk and Kabul so that we dont have to fight those fanatics in Boston, New York, Dallas and Greenville.

Soon, very soon we will have National Guard troops stationed on our Southern border to try and stem the flood of illegal aliens. I ask you to join me in praying that none of their names are added to the list of Brave Americans that gave their lives to defend our nation.

This Memorial Day let's take a moment to salute all the Veterans that put on American uniforms and paid the ultimate price. Lets also pray for the ones wearing them today.

God Bless America
Bill Hocutt
SSGT, USAF
1978 - 1986

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