To those brave fighting men and women a reaffirmation on this Memorial Day


"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth war , is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purpose of a master, such a war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice--is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing in which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing when need is, to do battle for one against the other.

John Stuart Mills (circa 1862)

To my cousin Tom who after serving 4 years in the Air Force
reenlisted and volunteered two tours of duty in Viet Nam and died in service for his fellow man. God Rest Your Soul Tom


Personal Best Regards: