Those That Are Greater Than I

"Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends"- John 15:13

Today, we celebrate the memory of the chosen ones. Those who chose, with the utmost valor, dignity, respect, honor and love to pursue, defend, protect and advance freedom here at home and abroad. These brave chosen ones were selfless and beholding to their God, their given principals which were instilled in their brave spirits who despite the incredible odds and circumstances would someday intersect the circumstances of right with the enemies of freedom.

The numbered many over the quantified years fought to advance a better life for each and everyone of us. The lives in total could never nearly be ascertained as the bridge from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror is to great in length for any one person to contemplate in its entirety.

If there is any doubt in a persons heart as to the depth of sacrifice made by each and every participant that has earned the right of this day, or the inability to recognize that sacrifice, one only needs to imagine if they could that last moment in time that every fallen hero felt. Whether it was the inconceivable pain from a wound, the fear of death, the sadness of final separation from loved ones never to be seen again or a quiet sense of duty completed, not one us will ever know. It is unimaginable to judge exactly what those last few seconds of life held for each and every patriot. To the contrary, every surviving person lucky enough to ponder this great question could never nearly ascertain or connect to those feelings.

What is known is this. Each man and woman, husband and wife, father and son, mother and daughter, that sacrificed their own life, liberty and pursuit of happiness so we the people can pursue and exercise ours. They all, each and every one deserve the utmost honor and respect of of our American hearts, whether democrat or republican, conservative or liberal, adult or child.

For without their dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice each one of us would be denied the fundamental rights we have today, forever unable to understand completely the gift of democracy that each had willingly furthered. There is a fundamental fact each of us must behold: the unknown could never fully be known if it did not have the opportunity to be first revealed.

Today, join me in remembering those that are are greater than I. For they made known that which was not: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to all Americans of yesterday, today and tomorrow. May they always be held closer to the wing of God than any other, for their sacrifice deserves no less.