To those who never grew old.
To those americans who took the proverbial "King's Shilling" and served and lost everything.
Thank you.
Some will say that the conflicts America has participated in since the defense of world-freedom in World War II are ignoble. I will not judge. That is not what we do this day. Let others debate whether the causes were noble or ignoble.
I care not.
You were drafted, or you volunteered, and you served. And you died.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
Thank you.
We remember.
We will not let the flame that you kindled die, even though you have.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
((I will have a regular update later in the week on my health and current writing status, but this was more important)