As a new citizen of this country I am perhaps more aware than some lucky enough to have been born here of the value of being here. I chose to be here and to embrace my new land and its culture. Our way of life; our democracy; our ability to know right from wrong and to stand up for justice and our freedoms which so many of us take for granted.
July 4th has been about Vacationing and not really about remembering. But without the sacrifice of so many who have laid down their lives to protect our freedoms, we would not be doing any vacationing this weekend – or probably any other weekend come to that.
The greatest generation of both this country and indeed the United Kingdom where I was born – was undoubtedly the generation that fought for us in World War II. All they knew was that without victory there would be tyranny. Without victory there would be evil. Without victory there would be no freedom.
The victory was a victory for freedom, but it was a victory won at an enormous cost in lives. That generation understood way better than we do now that however much you may hate violence and war – and let’s be honest, only the truly insane love either one of them – sometimes wars have to be fought and evil has to be stamped out to preserve the greater good.
The victory allowed us to continue with our way of life. To attend schools and colleges; churches, synagogues and mosques. It allowed us to continue to hand power from one President to another no matter what the political party without violence. One Congress to another in a similar way as the politicians bow to the will of the people. The victory allowed us to raise our families and build our communities and chase our dreams and even to reach for the stars – and get there.
You who laid down your lives in the name of freedom have given us all of this and so much more. You bought these things for us with your blood and most of us don’t think about you when we are at the beach or on the lake this weekend. We think about the laughter of our children and not your cries of pain. We look in wonder as the sunlight sparkles across the water and we certainly do not see your limbs spread across a battlefield.
We are all so busy chasing the American Dream that we rarely pause and think about the great American Sacrifice. It was Lincoln who referred to it as “The last full measure of devotion”.
September of 2001 taught us that freedom has a price as the descendents of the evil of World War Two brought death and destruction to our land.. It was perhaps a wake up call and we did wake up. But today – just a few short years later, we seem to be falling asleep all over again.
The parralells between Europe of the 1930s and the World of right now is too close for my personal comfort at least. And so today more young men and women are paying the price of freedom on our behalf.
I have already mentioned Lincoln in this short piece and as I think about how to pay tribute to those who gave everything for this country, I am drawn once again to his words – words written enroute to a Cemetery filled with thousands of graves in a small Pennsylvania town called Gettysburg.
He said: "We cannot dedicate. . .we cannot consecrate. . . we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men - living and dead - who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. . . . "
"It is for us - the living - to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth."
This was Lincoln’s challenge in 1863 and it remains ours today. I for one know for sure that it is because of their sacrifice that we are still able to shout out – Let Freedom Ring.
PLAY THE SONG!! It is not a regular version. It was recorded within days of 9/11.
Simon Conway is the winner of the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in the Orlando area.
Please give me a call if you have questions about the Central Florida real estate market. You can reach me on 407 876 8200. Also visit my web site at www.simonconway.net or www.move2orlando.net
I know how much you love this country. Every time we speak you tell me. It seems that those from the outside really understand how special this country is while we forget what we have. I met with a client yesterday born in India, but a naturalized citizen, whose love for this country and what is stands for is amazing.
We all need to remember and appreciate this great country that we have. It seems like so many people just don't care or respect it anymore. Thanks for the video. Happy 4th of July.
Happy Independence day my friend, but there is only one true freedom and it will never be achieved by anything this world has to offer. Deep inside I know you understand that.But born here or not you are truly one of the people who make this country great.
Great quote my Lincoln, a good day to reflect and remember the sacrifice of all who paved the way for America to be a light on hill, a shinning beacon of hope for the world.
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Simon - it is so easy to forget when people don't have to work for what they receive. Thanks for the Martina link, I had not heard that version.