A Shout Out to Our Armed Forces Wherever You May Be
22 December 2008 6:00 pm by Taylor Marsh
BY TAYLOR MARSH
This is to say “Merry Christmas” and “Thank You” to all of the women and men serving in our Armed Forces, whatever branch, wherever you serve around the world. The video above is a flashback that is shown in the spirit of also remembering our veterans of Vietnam, as well as veterans who served wherever and whenever.
We never forget your sacrifice.
We never forget what you have endured, the revolving tours, the endless danger, as well as the horrific lack of planning that will inevitably lead you from Iraq back to Afghanistan, as well as to the dangerous minefields of Central Asia. So many dangerous territories left to fester under incompetent civilian leadership. We know you get the leading edge of that spear.
And for all of you who serve silently, covertly, the SOF, but also the unsung heroes of the clandestine services, all of whom are involved in fighting and gathering intel on the asymmetric threats we face in the 21st century, we say “Thank You.”
So many of you will not be home for Christmas and weren’t home for Thanksgiving either. At our house, we will lift a glass to salute all you do for this great country, but also for nothing less than your work to manifest peace in this world. Our pledge to you is to keep fighting the word war, the propaganda war, as well as the unending rhetoric against diplomacy and detente, which can bring back an equilibrium, however taut, something we haven’t seen in over eight years.
With a new Administration coming in, we intend to at the very least offer a better battle plan, including muscular diplomacy, so that you are not the only effort on the front lines. There is more to peace than warfare. More to progress than can be utilized through weaponry. More to world alliances than building military budgets. At some point we all must be willing to live with each other amidst our differences, no matter how great.
“World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor — it requires that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement.” – President John F. Kennedy
Merry Christmas to you all, blessing as well to your families. You will stay in our prayers. Thank you for your courage and endless service.
