I watched the flag pass by one day, It fluttered in the breeze. A young airman saluted it, And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform, So young, so tall, so proud. With hair cut square and yes alert, He’d stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him, Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil? How many mothers’ tears?
How many pilots’ planes shot down? How many died at sea? How many foxholes, soldiers’ graves? No! Freedom is not free.
I heard the sound of taps one night, When everything was still. I listened to the bugler play, And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times That taps had meant “Amen,” Times a flag covered a coffin Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons, and husbands, With interrupted lives.
I thought about the graveyard At the bottom of the sea. Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No! Freedom is not free.
~Tom~
Edit: Those who have followed us from the beginning may know I'm a veteran. For those who haven't followed us, allow me to say that not only am I a veteran, but I am a disabled veteran as well. I served my country, and yes, this is MY country, with honor, pride, and dedication. Like so many before me, and those who will come after me, I put my life on the line to ensure the freedoms so many in this country take for granted.
This blog was meant to open people's eyes to the fact that the freedoms they enjoy every day are the result of our country's veterans, past and present. They willingly fought and died for the rights and freedoms we enjoy every single day. We, as a nation, do not give our veterans the respect they deserve. In fact, we never really have.
This post is not about our government, our politicians or our stance about war. It is about honoring those men and women who voluntarily place themselves in harms way at a moments notice so that we may all sleep at night. That my friends is something we should all be able to agree upon.
very nice. but not nice at the same time. why? because it takes a war or a terrorist act to bring people together. ♥
Freedom never was free.
@SilverBird_Loves - Thats sad.Do we have to many differences that we can't come together or organize?
Patriotic and sad. I agree, Freedom is not free. It costs too much in fact - countless lives.
Very nicely written.
Well said.
@deathtothenewworldorder - like children - we fight and bicker and hate - UNTIL the bully arrives. then we all band together and no, it shouldn't be that way. but it is. ♥
Freedom is to break the rules and do whatever makes you feel happy and independent. Am i right?
Freedom is indeed not free. There should be benchmarks or it will be in chaos.
I think some of these warmongers should go to the VA hospitals to see the 1000 yd. stare on the faces of those who have served their country. From the grizzled old men from previous wars, to the sweet faced children of today's ongoing battle, many of them will never know of life outside of the hospital. Whether they have limbs missing, massive burns over most of their body, are in a catatonic state, or act terrified of their surroundings; it's all they have left---day in and day out. But somehow they always reach out to one another for comfort and compassion; they are there for their fellow "brother"; they each know and understand what they have been through. No one else knows because they haven't been there, and there are no words to describe what they've experienced; no possible way to make someone understand. That is the REAL cost of freedom! On a wall at the VA hospital in Syracuse where my husband has been so many times, there is a handmade sign that says, "Freedom isn't free, just look around". When asked, each one of them will deny being a hero, and will tell you the real heroes are the ones who didn't come home. My response to them is always, "You are my hero. Every person who puts on that uniform, IS my hero". My husband told me that when he came home from Vietnam, the only thing that he wanted was the same thing all of the soldiers wanted, but was the one thing none of them received. To have maybe just one person tell them, "Welcome home". So that's why I tell them every time, and wish to say it now, "Thank you and welcome home to ALL veterans". May God bless and protect each and every one of them! Thank you-Sandy.
This was beautiful. I salute you dear sir. Thank you for your service and sacrifice
@Darn_it_danube - Thank you very much. This was written many, many years ago in basic training.
@ShamelesslyRed - Thank you my dear. It was an honor and a privilege to serve. I would do it all over again if necessary.
Thank you for what you've done for us.
very true, freedom is not free.
i almost cried reading this and trust me that in and of itself is not an easy thing to accomplish.....
"We, as a nation, do not give our veterans the respect they deserve. In fact, we never really have.
This post is not about our government, our politicians or our stance about war. It is about honoring those men and women who voluntarily place themselves in harms way at a moments notice so that we may all sleep at night. That my friends is something we should all be able to agree upon."
^soo so true.
amazing post.
This is wonderful. My hat's off to all who serve this country. It is one of the least respected positions, I feel. People tend to mix up the soldiers with the politics of war, and take it out on the enlisted. My dad is vet of the Korean war.
Reality sucks
Beautifully written Tom. I have mixed feelings. Some veterans are truly heroes. Some take advantage of their uniforms and bring attention to their ignominious acts at Abu Ghraib and the Haditha incidents.
@Xx_Kittt_xX - So, in other words, I rule? hehe, thank you very much! @impossibleangles - Precisely! The military men and women have nothing to do with politics. That is definitely a common misconception, and one which bothers me quite a bit. @ZSA_MD - My dear, there will always be bad apples in every organization. Most military men and women genuinely care about others. It's those few though we always managed to ruin it for everyone else, and that is a shame. Thank you though Zakiah
@maniacsicko - hehe, shall I take that to mean you were impressed? ;) Because you know, that means soooo much to me.
Beautiful post. And I agree, that we should honour the veterans. I'm not American, but I thank you, Tom, for serving your country. May God bless you greatly.
Comments (54)
very nice. but not nice at the same time. why? because it takes a war or a terrorist act to bring people together. ♥
Freedom never was free.
@SilverBird_Loves - Thats sad.Do we have to many differences that we can't come together or organize?
Patriotic and sad. I agree, Freedom is not free. It costs too much in fact - countless lives.
Very nicely written.
Well said.
@deathtothenewworldorder -
like children - we fight and bicker and hate - UNTIL the bully arrives. then we all band together and no, it shouldn't be that way. but it is. ♥
Freedom is to break the rules and do whatever makes you feel happy and independent. Am i right?
Freedom is indeed not free. There should be benchmarks or it will be in chaos.
I think some of these warmongers should go to the VA hospitals to see the 1000 yd. stare on the faces of those who have served their country. From the grizzled old men from previous wars, to the sweet faced children of today's ongoing battle, many of them will never know of life outside of the hospital. Whether they have limbs missing, massive burns over most of their body, are in a catatonic state, or act terrified of their surroundings; it's all they have left---day in and day out. But somehow they always reach out to one another for comfort and compassion; they are there for their fellow "brother"; they each know and understand what they have been through. No one else knows because they haven't been there, and there are no words to describe what they've experienced; no possible way to make someone understand. That is the REAL cost of freedom! On a wall at the VA hospital in Syracuse where my husband has been so many times, there is a handmade sign that says, "Freedom isn't free, just look around". When asked, each one of them will deny being a hero, and will tell you the real heroes are the ones who didn't come home. My response to them is always, "You are my hero. Every person who puts on that uniform, IS my hero". My husband told me that when he came home from Vietnam, the only thing that he wanted was the same thing all of the soldiers wanted, but was the one thing none of them received. To have maybe just one person tell them, "Welcome home". So that's why I tell them every time, and wish to say it now, "Thank you and welcome home to ALL veterans". May God bless and protect each and every one of them! Thank you-Sandy.
So beautifully written.
@niikhita - @sandburm - @Murazrai - @xClassified - @CatastrophicKitten - @TheDumberScott - @Norcani - @deathtothenewworldorder - @SilverBird_Loves - Please see the "edit" for my blanket response to everyone, and thank you all.
This gave me chills.
I agree with every single sentiment.
This was beautiful. I salute you dear sir. Thank you for your service and sacrifice
@Darn_it_danube - Thank you very much. This was written many, many years ago in basic training.
@ShamelesslyRed - Thank you my dear. It was an honor and a privilege to serve. I would do it all over again if necessary.Thank you for what you've done for us.
very true, freedom is not free.
i almost cried reading this and trust me that in and of itself is not an easy thing to accomplish.....
"We, as a nation, do not give our veterans the respect they deserve. In fact, we never really have.This
post is not about our government, our politicians or our stance about
war. It is about honoring those men and women who voluntarily place
themselves in harms way at a moments notice so that we may all sleep at
night. That my friends is something we should all be able to agree upon."
^soo so true.
amazing post.
This is wonderful. My hat's off to all who serve this country. It is one of the least respected positions, I feel. People tend to mix up the soldiers with the politics of war, and take it out on the enlisted. My dad is vet of the Korean war.
wow.............
@AibellFaeire - You are most welcome!
@Xx_Kittt_xX - So, in other words, I rule? hehe, thank you very much!
@maniacsicko - hehe, shall I take that to mean you were impressed? ;) Because you know, that means soooo much to me.@impossibleangles - Precisely! The military men and women have nothing to do with politics. That is definitely a common misconception, and one which bothers me quite a bit.
@ZSA_MD - My dear, there will always be bad apples in every organization. Most military men and women genuinely care about others. It's those few though we always managed to ruin it for everyone else, and that is a shame. Thank you though Zakiah
Beautiful post. And I agree, that we should honour the veterans. I'm not American, but I thank you, Tom, for serving your country. May God bless you greatly.
@bella_esperanza - Thank you, and may He do the same for you!
I fear true freedom will never exist.
@AnamcharaConcepts - ummmm....YES! lol. you are welcome.