Why, Daddy?
Recently, my son asked me why it was such a big deal for us to stand and sing the national anthem at the beginning of a football game. He wanted to know why we had to hold our right hand over our hearts and stand up straight.
Tears
That’s when the tears began to roll from my eyes. They always do. They are right now as I type.
When I see that Star-Spangled Banner waving… when I see the military jets fly over… when I hear the vocalist hit that extra high soaring note on “…free-ee”, well I just can’t hold it in.
Gratitude
I am so grateful that so many people have fought for me and my family to live in this free nation. I am free to worship the way I want to because they defended my right. The person I disagree with has a right to speak vile statements because those people defended that right.
And some have not only fought… Some have suffered great injury… Some have even sacrificed their lives… so that I could watch that football game.
Too Far?
And I suppose I may take it a little too far. But if they were willing to do that for me, I figure the absolute very least I could do is stand up straight, put my hand over my heart & sing the words to salute their heroic deeds… to show appreciation for what I have been handed due to no effort of my own. It’s not really too much to ask, is it? Freedom isn’t free. Someone, somewhere paid for it for me & my family. So I stand, I salute, I sing.
Many, Many Thanks
To my Grandpa, my uncles, my old dorm pastor at college, my friends and all the rest of you both present and past veterans who surrendered to the call of duty to your country so that today I could enjoy its freedoms… I salute you with deep love, admiration & appreciation!
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