11-11-2013, 07:45 PM
I was just recently in a conversation, where I had to re-aawaken memories of what M.I.A. truly means.
For those who have, for whatever reason, never spoken the oath of enlistment in the armed forces of the United States of America, this is it:
I, (NAME), 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.
This is why we serve, this is what we swear to protect, and defend.
The memories I spoke of are about those who lie today where they fell in battle, or are still prisoners, or for whatever reason, are still among the missing.
It is the ones who still lie where the fell in battle that I wish to honor here, now.
It is the ones whose families never had the chance to "funeral" their loved one. Who never got to place a head stone on a grave, or even have a grave they can visit.
Who to this day, still do not know if their loved one is truly dead, or still being held captive by some uncaring government.
Today, then, I choose to honor all those who are still M.I.A. I have never met you, or known you, but today I honor you, and your courage in keeping the Oath you took, those long years ago.
I salute you.
CPO USN Ret. 1961-1983
For those who have, for whatever reason, never spoken the oath of enlistment in the armed forces of the United States of America, this is it:
I, (NAME), 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.
This is why we serve, this is what we swear to protect, and defend.
The memories I spoke of are about those who lie today where they fell in battle, or are still prisoners, or for whatever reason, are still among the missing.
It is the ones who still lie where the fell in battle that I wish to honor here, now.
It is the ones whose families never had the chance to "funeral" their loved one. Who never got to place a head stone on a grave, or even have a grave they can visit.
Who to this day, still do not know if their loved one is truly dead, or still being held captive by some uncaring government.
Today, then, I choose to honor all those who are still M.I.A. I have never met you, or known you, but today I honor you, and your courage in keeping the Oath you took, those long years ago.
I salute you.
CPO USN Ret. 1961-1983
We always learn far more from our own mistakes, than we will ever learn from another's advice.
The greatest place to live life, is on the sharp leading edge of a learning curve.
Lead me not into temptation.....I can find it myself!
The greatest place to live life, is on the sharp leading edge of a learning curve.
Lead me not into temptation.....I can find it myself!