Never Forget

“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.” General George S. Patton, Jr.,in Patton by Francis Ford Coppola. Patton never was one for tact, but this quote reminds me of the events that took place today seventy years ago. I’m grateful to the men and women who fought for my freedom. I’m thankful for those souls in faraway countries today that are protecting this nation. I pray that the people in this country never forget the price that was paid for freedom. WWII Vets are passing away at an alarming rate and with them goes the history of that time. My grandfather served in WWII, my father in Vietnam, my brother Corey in the Gulf War, and my brother Rick served in Desert Storm. I spoke a bit about Rick and his service to our country last night at a women’s ministry mixer. Rick was one of the most patriotic men I ever met. His pride in country, as have mine, eroded away when we saw how the justice system really works. Part of the lesson at last night’s event was to write down the name of one person who was hindering you in your walk with the Lord. We were challenged to write down the name of one or two people we couldn’t forgive. I know who they are. I see their faces every day in my mind’s eye but I couldn’t bring myself to write their name on a paper. These two women have taken so much – more than they will ever realize. I have my own war against them that will hopefully come to a close in the New Year. I will not rest until they pay for the lives they have ruined. They grossly underestimated the devotion to what is decent and right. As Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto said to his superiors upon learning of the success of the attack on Pearl Harbor, “I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.” The war rages on.