Military Matters
Welcome to Military Matters with Sergeant J. This column serves two purposes. First it is a column to keep the military community of Bonners Ferry informed of various military issues and respond to any issues that the veterans would like to discuss; military matters. Second this column is a window for the non-military citizen to become a little more acquainted with the military and veteran citizens beyond what is normally known; the military does matter.
Before I go any further, I would ask that we take a moment and say thanks to all the service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our country, those service members who have passed on after a honorable service, and to remember those service members who are still missing or are prisoners of war.
Rules of Engagement:
There are a few ground rules that I need to present. This and future discussions are for things military. This discussion is for everyone. If I offend anyone or get some information wrong, please shoot me an email and I will work the issues and respond in kind.
Matters: Memorial Day
Memorial Day is upon us this May 28th, 2012. This is a time when we honor and remember the men and women of the Untied States of America who died in service to our great nation. Especially those who made the empyrean sacrifice at the hands of an enemy of our country; thereby, guaranteeing our rights under liberty here. If you would like to read more on the history and meaning of Memorial Day, I suggest these site
By the time many of you read this article, Memorial Day will have already passed, but still there are thoughts about this day that I would like to share with you.
My grandfather, Harold Davis a retired Cobb County, GA Sheriff's detective, passed away while I was on my way to Afghanistan in January 2008. He was my role model and was the reason I joined the Army. He served in World War II with the 45th Infantry Division and was present for all eight campaigns, amphibious assaults and the infamous liberation of Dachau concentration camp . I never understood a lot of things he talked about sometimes, until I became a soldier myself. Then I understood some. It was not until the week of Memorial day 2008 in Farah province in Afghanistan on a stretch of deadly road called Highway 517 that I truly came to understand what it meant to serve with everything you have and to witness firsthand the types of courage, commitment, and total sacrifice the sons and daughters of America make.
I came to understand more about this day while my youngest daughter and I were helping the American Legion post I am a member of put American flags on all the resting places of all our community service members who have passed on. I was awestruck as I realized the amount of service members there were in our small town, the wars some of them served in, and heard some of their stories from those who knew them in life. The level of faithful and true service made by our American services members is something that is damn near unquantifiable. How do you quantify ones life; especially a service members? The decorations, awards, rank, or how long they serve are not the qualifies to be remembered. It is the simple fact that at one point in their lives they stepped up to the plate in defense of our Nation that qualifies them to be remembered this day. All that matters on this day is that we remember they lived and served this nation at some point in their lives and that we never forget that even though they have passed on; their legacy will never die.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying this Memorial Day weekend. Get with family and freinds and have a time of enjoyment and laughter. The service members that paid the price for the luxury we enjoy on this weekend would have it no other way. We just need to always remeber why we have this luxury and exactly who paid the price for it.
Matters: What is Happening in the Military World.
In this article I would like to give you a few links to some military news sources. On the sites you will find a lot of interesting news about what is happening in military and veteran community.
Military and Veteran News Sites:
The American Legion Burn Pit: http://www.burnpit.us/
VFW News: http://www.vfw.org/News-And-Events/Press-Room/Press-Releases/
Military.com News: http://www.military.com/news
VA Media Room: http://www.va.gov/landing2_media_room.htm
Department of Defense American Forces Press Service: http://www.defense.gov/news/
Calling all local veterans!
Service members are a unique culture that are a critical part of American society; especially here in our community of Boundary county, Idaho. To continue my efforts in exploring this culture I would like start to introducing some of our local veterans in future articles. If there are any veterans that are interested or you know of any veterans that you would like to see introduced please send me an email at: sergeantj@newsbf.com
Please Send in Your Matters:
You Matter!
Please send me any military matters that you would like discussed and I'll try and get them in our pages. Also please send me any useful links that you want posted. Thanks. You can email me at: sergeantj@newsbf.com
