must be paid by someone!
It was Sunday, Sept 2, 1945 when the Japanese leaders met with the Allied leaders to offer their full and unconditional surrender of the war – World War II was over – it was exactly 3 years, 8 months, and 25 days since the Japanese started that war with America by their unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. It had been a terrible time of great hardship and horrific suffering and death, with literally hundreds of thousands of brave American and Allied troops dead or wounded. But, now, finally, it was over.
As the Japanese leaders signed their unconditional surrender on the deck of that mighty battleship, the U.S. Missouri, a flag flew above them – an American flag. The same American flag that had flown over our U.S. Congress building in Washington D.C. on December 7, 1941. That flag was there that day to represent one thing – freedom.
In his speech that day, General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, said this:
“It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past –
a world founded upon faith and understanding –
a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of
his most cherished wish –
for freedom, for tolerance, and for justice.
He concluded with these words:
“Let us pray for peace – and that God will preserve it always”.
The war was over, the American and Allied forces had succeeded, and freedom was preserved – but at a great price. Many of our brave young Americans who had gone to war, sadly, so many never came home. And for those who did make it back home, many carried with them, and still today, the horrors of war.
It has been said that this world is a dangerous place to live – not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it. And, as we approach our coming Memorial Day, we thank our veterans who did do something back then – they stood up! And we thank those serving today who are still standing, still serving, all around the world for the cause of freedom.
General Dwight Eisenhower said this,
“The history of free men is never really written by chance,
but by choice – their choice”.
In his book, “A Long March Home”, Bataan survivor Clarence Larsen shows a picture of the U.S. Military cemetery in the Philippines. In this cemetery, there are 36,279 graves – graves of brave American men who fought and died there. Sadly, this is only one of many U.S. Military cemeteries all around the world.
Under that picture, Mr. Larsen writes these words:
“These are the ones who made the supreme sacrifice.
We owe our freedom to them –
my freedom, your freedom, freedom for all”.
-You see-Freedom Isn’t Free-
Other Powerful Words Worth Remembering
“DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY. THESE THREE HALLOWED WORDS REVERENTLY DICTATE WHAT A SOLDIER OUGHT TO BE, WHAT YOU CAN BE, WHAT YOU WILL BE. THEY ARE THE SOLDIER’S RALLYING POST TO BUILD COURAGE WHEN COURAGE SEEMS TO FAIL, TO REGAIN FAITH WHEN THERE SEEMS TO BE LITTLE CAUSE FOR FAITH, TO CREATE HOPE WHEN ALL HOPE IS GONE. DUTY…HONOR…COUNTRY.”
GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR
“I KNOW NOT WHAT COURSE OTHERS MAY TAKE. BUT AS FOR ME – GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH.”
“GOD GRANTS LIBERTY ONLY TO THOSE WHO LOVE IT; AND ARE ALWAYS READY TO GUARD AND DEFEND IT.”
“MY FELLOW AMERICANS – ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU. ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY.”
“WITH A FIRM RELIANCE ON THE PROTECTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, WE MUTUALLY PLEDGE TO EACH OTHER OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, AND OUR SACRED HONOR.”
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
“THE SUMMER SOLDIER, THE SUNSHINE PATRIOT WILL, IN THIS CRISIS, SHRINK FROM THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY, BUT HE THAT STANDS NOW WILL DESERVE THE LOVE AND THANKS OF MEN AND WOMEN…WE HAVE THIS CONSOLATION WITH US,
THAT THE HARDER THE CONFLICT THE MORE GLORIOUS THE TRIUMPH.
FOR WHAT WE OBTAIN TOO CHEAP WE ESTEEM TOO LIGHTLY”.
THOMAS PAINE
