Memorial Day

As we pause today to honor and memorialize those who have made sacrifices to make and keep our country free, I thought you might enjoy the following little piece. This was written by the son of a friend. This child is 8 years old and wrote this in response to a teacher's request to write about "What America Means To Me". The teacher was so impressed, he was asked to read his response to an audience at a school musical last week. Oh, that the so-called adults of this country could have but an ounce of the patriotism this second grader has!

What does America mean to me?

In America , we have the right
to not only want a better life
but to achieve it;

We have the right to question our leaders
and replace them with better ones;
we have the right to reach for the moon.

We have more rights than most citizens
of most other countries
and yet we take those rights
for granted and fail to appreciate them
and the brave men and women
who have died protecting those rights.

We may not be perfect as a country
but if you knock us down,
we'll get back up again
and be stronger for the experience.

That's what America means to me.

I don't know about you, but when I read that, it makes me proud to be an American! Proud to know that I live in a country where second graders can express their views about our country and our government, without fear of retribution.

It also makes me proud that those liberties have been protected and preserved by brave men and women across the centuries. And, even as I type, there are wonderful men and women on foreign soil and right here at home who are still protecting those rights!

My nephew-in-love, Brian, with some Iraqi children.

Brian did a tour of duty in Iraq between Dec., 2004 and Dec., 2005.
Brian is an Army Medic with the Iowa National Guard

This is my Daddy, Van P. McDonald.

Daddy served with the U.S. Army in Germany between 1953 - 1955.

Daddy was the leader of a squad of sharp shooters;

what we now commonly know as snipers.

May God go with all those men and women who protect and serve. May He guide their steps and bring them home safely to their families. May He be with their families who wait so patiently for their return. May He give them strength for their journey and comfort for their aching hearts.