Close to the beginning of my cousin’s funeral service the room came to their feet as four to five older gentlemen took their positions at various points of the chapel. An introduction, the folding of the coffin flag while taps is played on bugles, the presenting of the flag to surviving wife, more bugling, all of which was accomplished by gentlemen who obviously were struggling under the affects of their own aging. It was the most beautiful and inspiring thing I have ever seen. In that moment, I felt humbled and honored to be a fellow veteran for the greatest nation in the world. Many other attendees were deeply touched as well.
America has problems today, true enough, but she still has the strong hearts of her American Veterans.
My family and I went to Disneyland yesterday and saw the Lincoln exhibit. I had seen it before but I was stunned to find his speech had more impactful meaning to me than I was prepared to experience. I wept through the entire 30 minutes.
Lincoln’s Disney speech was amassed from 4 of Lincoln’s actual historical speeches in 1963 by Disney. I share it here in the hopes to stir the American heart of old to stand firm in these difficult times.
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“The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.
What constitutes the bulwark of our liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts. These are not our reliance against tyranny. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.
At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some trans-Atlantic military giant, to step the ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we ourselves must be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all times, or die by suicide.
Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by the menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves. Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” (A. Lincoln)
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This weekend we honor our Veterans, at least with family gatherings and BBQs and football, but let us not forget the courage, valor, skill and heart of our true American patriots. And to our beloved veteran, I say never forget what you gave to carry the title of the American Veteran. And brothers and sisters, America needs your heart again today. We need you to remind us all of what is at stake in these perilous days of uncertainty. We need you to remind all citizens today who we were and are. Help to call us together again back to the unity of the words: One nation Under God! May God Bless America Again!
