While Freedom Sleeps

I joined the Marine Corps during the war in Vietnam, not because I was a patriot but because I received my draft notice. I chose the Marines because the Air force was full of like minded people and I figured I was going to end up in country and wanted to be as prepared as possible for what ever laid before me.

I was right about ending up in harms way and the training I would receive but learned a lot more than I expected. I did tours in Hawaii, Okinawa, Philippines, as well as stateside in California, Florida and North Carolina. I met and served beside young men and women who understood why it was important to stand up for freedom around the world, many of whom I am proud to have known and served with who made the supreme sacrifice.

What I find the most puzzling of all enigmas is that those who do not have freedom love and appreciate it more than those who do. Marines are more appreciated as is freedom by those who can remember the cost paid to get it. In the Orient we were appreciated for the cost of the freedoms obtained by our sacrifice at home in the "Land of the Free" we were called "baby killers" and worse.

Today I see government led by those who have no Idea of the cost of freedom speak of sacrifice and freedom on one hand while on the other they take away freedoms and beliefs that Americans have died to defend and advance to the good of mankind for hundreds of years.

All that has made this nation great is at risk by a generation that has decided there is a better way than the Judo Christian work ethic that has made this country the greatest nation in the history of the world.

How sad, while we let Freedom Sleep and look to Washington to provide our needs we see all that this country sacrificed for erode while we become that which we sought to free the world from, the evils of a greedy power hungry government that seeks to replace the face of free men with a populace that has been educated to believe they are entitled by the blood of their forefathers to have their future provided for them by those who seek to advance their policies over freedom.

Freedom awake before all is lost to greed and entitlement. God I pray, at whatever cost, bless again America and those who hold this truth to mean what it says, that all men are created equal with a God given right to become all they can by their blood, sweat, and tears. Free to fail but always willing to get back up and try again. America wake up and let FREEDOM RING.