Salute
J D. Pendry
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13 (NIV)
The community swimming pools opened this weekend as did the amusement parks. If you ask most of our children and sadly many adults too what Memorial Day means that or something similar is the answer you are likely to get. With men and women presently serving and sacrificing in war, at least you might think it important to a nation as great as this one to stop and remember their significant contributions to our existence as a free country. From its infancy, the American Warrior has paved the way for freedom, at home and in other lands. On this day, we need to reflect on the contributions made by American Warriors throughout our history and who at this moment are facing an enemy that despises our model of freedom. This special group of Americans have never lost sight of who they are or their important responsibilities.
Oath of enlistment June 14, 1775:
I _____ have, this day, voluntarily enlisted myself, as a soldier, in the American continental army, for one year, unless sooner discharged: And I do bind myself to conform, in all instances, to such rules and regulations, as are, or shall be, established for the government of the said Army.
Oath of enlistment September 20, 1776:
I _____ swear (or affirm as the case may be) to be trued to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies opposers whatsoever; and to observe and obey the orders of the Continental Congress, and the orders of the Generals and officers set over me by them.
The first oath under the Constitution was approved by Act of Congress 29 September 1789 (Sec. 3, Ch. 25, 1st Congress. It came in two parts:
The first part read: I, ___, do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States.
The second part read: I, ___, do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me.
Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962:
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
If you have heard it once, you have heard it hundreds of times. When the pundits talk about Iraq, they always tell us that the Warriors can only establish the secure environment necessary for the political process to work. The politicians must take it from there and keep moving the country forward. That is how we started too. Our Warriors secured our nation from its enemies then passed its future to the politicians. The first batch of them did quite well with their part. They gave us a Constitution and a Representative Republic form of government. It has been a long time since our politicians faced a similar challenge. Maybe that is why things often seem out of focus or why some of them appear to lose sight of the role they must fulfill. Thankfully, our Warriors stay focused.
I visited with my Father this weekend. We had our private conversation. I thanked him for what he provided me in this life. Back home, I looked at the picture I have of him in his World War II Navy uniform and asked myself, if not for men like you where would our country be?
Take a moment for reflection. Take a minute to share with someone the meaning of and importance of this day and these special people.
Copyright © J.D. Pendry 2008 All Rights Reserved