Question: Where does your passion for the 4th of July, supporting the troops and Americana-themed pages come from? As one of the many Consultants who served in our Armed Forces, I am truly appreciative of your support and always wondered just where that passion originated for you. --submitted by Jenny-May, August 28, 6:03 pm
Answer: Hi, Jenny-May Olson! I love your question and I thank you for your service to our country. I specifically saved your question for today, September 11, a date that's becoming known as "Patriot Day." Today, as on Independence Day, election days, Veterans' Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day and other important days throughout the year, I literally find my eyes welling with tears as I think about my beloved country.
I suppose that my love of country was inborn, but certainly strengthened by my upbringing. My parents worked incredibly hard to carve out the American dream for their children. They never had a sense of entitlement, but were willing to work and sacrifice for what they valued. I feel that those core tenets: faith, work, and sacrifice, are what the founding fathers envisioned as making America great, and they are certainly the values I guide my life by.
Through the country's 200+-year history, those who believe in those principles have given of their time, their money, their service, and even their lives to preserve and protect those freedoms. How can I not hold that sacred?
As the world becomes a more tumultuous place, I know that the values of faith, work, and sacrifice—and the abundance and joy that such commitment brings—will be increasingly under attack. I believe the attacks will be literal, as we've seen with terrorist activity, and metaphorical, as we see with apathy toward voting or an apologetic stance by Americans of US policy or our military.
I feel that if we care about the future of our country we must speak up: silent support is not support at all. My voice is but one—but I love this country. I prize our republic. I cherish our freedoms. And I am proud to say so and to thank those who serve so selflessly. Mine may be one voice, but when others join me, it's a chorus!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Cherish Freedom
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Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jeanette! As the wife of a special forces officer who has deployed 7 times, it truly warms my heart to hear your words. You are a wonderful example to all and say it beautifully! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSinging right along with you, Jeanette! God bless the USA!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jeanette. As a wife of an almost brand-spankin' new Navy Chaplain, I am there with you!
ReplyDeleteAmerican - proud and honored.
ReplyDeleteEven if I wasn't the wife of a US Marine my eyes would have welled with pride in your reading your post!
ReplyDeleteJeanette - Thanks so much for answering this. I am just now getting caught up on the questions I missed, and this is one of them. I wasn't online much around the 11th, so I didn't see that you had saved the response to this question for this day. I am humbled by your response and Thank You for your continued support. It's a blessing to see such passion!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless the USA,
Jenny-May