Nov
6
2006
Most of the people who read this blog should have received an email from me informing them of an online petition asking for a State funeral for the last veteran of the Great War.
My Aunt Marie pointed it out to me, and as most of you know, I am a big supporter of our troops and veterans. I am humbly asking that you sign the petition.
Each year we lose the link to our past that has given our nation a notion of identity. Many of my generation and those behind it have no sense of what immense sacrifice was given for us to enjoy what we take for granted. I can't imagine what it would be like going overseas to fight (some at age 17 or less) for something that is noncontrete, something based on an idea of what is right. Even though I have great pride in the country that I live in, would I be willing to lay my life down for it? I'm not sure I would, really, but the choice these men faced was not one of fighting for what is, but what will be. What the future would become, and what their families would face should they not succeed. That is where my pride comes from; the countless men who faced the fear of not coming home to give us a better future.
Sign the petition; we owe them that much.