In my junior or senior year of high school, I was aggressively pursued by a military recruiter. Looking back, a laughable notion. I was extremely skinny and had no interest in sports or excessive physical activity or conflict of almost any kind. But, I hadn’t fully decided what I was going to do after graduation, and GI Joe was cool, so I humored the notion for a bit.
Needless to say, I went to college instead. Now look at me. Still too skinny with no interest in sports or excessive physical activity or conflict of almost any kind. But hey, my country is still (mostly) free, so not a total loss.
Thank you to those who have served and are serving. You’re more brave than I.
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Memorial Day Sonnet
If Liberty means anything to me,
I will remember what my freedom cost,
By those who gave their all to keep me free,
Whose lives were sacrificed, but never lost.
I will remind myself of what they did,
And keep them dearly cherished in my heart;
Their honor never from me shall be hid
And I will know they always did their part
To save our nation and its people here,
To pledge their lives in defense of our ways,
To show that freedom always outlives fear,
And sacrifice is hallowed all our days.
If Liberty means anything to me,
I will remember those who kept me free.
© John Stuart 2008
Pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church,
Knoxville, Tennessee
Audio at:
[audio src="http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Memorial_Day.mp3" /]