Often Shameful Paucity
for Those of the Highest Nobility...

About ten months ago, I was leaving the lobby area of our small local Post Office when I noticed an older gentleman with a limp about to enter the first exterior door. I hurried my way through the interior door so I could open and hold the door for this man. I then retreated to the interior door and repeated the simple courtesy. He thanked me audibly and I promptly assured him he was most welcome. I then continued my exit outside to the parking area.

By the grace of God, it's small town, rural America here. There was only one other vehicle in the lot, which I had to pass on my way back to my truck and eagerly awaiting wiggle tailed wooves. Here in Maine, we have a state required license plate on both ends of each vehicle, and it is illegal to remove the front one to display any other type of plate, decorative, novelty or whatever. As I passed by what I realized was surely the old man's sedan, I half noticed that his front plate was not that of the state issued mandate. At first, I didn't really scrutinize it, but then took another glance and realized what I was seeing... a state of Maine issued, official "Purple Heart" license plate.

I felt my late father's hand of respect firmly squeezing my shoulder as my feet hauled to a sudden stop. I wheeled on one foot and headed back to the Post Office lobby.

Now there is a certain part of me that simply hates to do what I knew I had embarked upon. I find it absolutely required, but I know that I cannot do it with a steady voice or a dry eye. Never. To be painfully honest, I cannot even type this without getting shaky. But it is my personal version of compulsory civilian appreciation and duty. It's how my parents raised me... and it always stirs my... deepest passion.

After getting through the exterior door, I managed to just get to the interior door and open it ahead of the withered skeleton of the man heading back out after completing his business.

He looked up at me with a wrinkled grin and said, "Well, young man, I guess you're the designated doorman for this facility today?"

I replied, "Sir, it is a high honor to hold this door for a Purple Heart warrior of these United States" and with that, I earnestly thanked him and firmly, but gently, reached out and shook his hand. He shook my hand with surprising authority and I was beginning to react with embarrassment because I knew my eyes were welling up. Then I saw his eyes were already spilling his own tears.

We continued together through the exterior door and he told me how rare it was that anyone even noticed his Purple Heart plate. He had considered just removing them and requesting "normal" state items, but his wife wouldn't stand for that. I opened his driver's side door and before getting into his car and driving off, he told me that it meant "a lot" to him that someone actually cared, much less said so, thanked him and exchanged a handshake. I told him that I owed the very opportunity to live in freedom to his dedicated acts of valor and those of innumerable veterans just like him.

We didn't exchange names then, or since, although I see him from time to time, always with a smile, a greeting and that firm, now familiar, handshake. We don't need to know each other's names. After all, he defended all of us and never had to know anyone's name.

Veteran's Day is one of the most important, sacred remembrances of the annual calendar. It is a marked notation of our society's moral declivity to witness that it is generally no longer held in such obeisance. Many of us (both writers of this blog staunchly included) do still take serious, lauding interlude to consider the gargantuan endowments of our defenders... past,present and future. They routinely convey selfless contributions to all Americans... who they do not and will not ever personally know. To the patriotic civvies of this ethos, to act otherwise ordinarily is wildly beyond comprehension.

We simply MUST remember. We sincerely absorb the gravity and revere their commitments. We react instinctively, choking to grasp sparsely sufficient air into our lungs. We halt in wonderment at the enormity of their consideration for the freedom, liberty and independence that they undauntingly, unflinchingly protect for all.

They are the wardens of the truest prerogative. They secure it for every one of the citizens of these incredible United States... the people who thank them and the people who spit on them... and all degrees of varied homage in between. They guard Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents, Conservatives and liberals without ever checking our stripes. They require nothing from we the benefactors, excepting our richest enjoyment of the fruits of their sacrifices. We are permitted to ignore, to disregard completely or even to disparage their courageous acts of aegis. And that disgusting portion of our freedom to do as we individually choose, however morally and ethically repugnant, is also protected by these same gallant knights.

These brave, gritty, resolute men and women have stepped up for generations. They fought for, built and established the beacon of liberty that is this towering country. They have protected it ever since with undying love and dedication. They have walked away from family, future and comfort to preserve that of their countrymen. How utterly unforgivable could it be for us to forget, evade, neglect and overlook what they have freely granted us?

We have but two simple obligations of response:

We must honor them and their families with a regard that is proper and fitting for their sacrifices.

And we must never allow their accomplishments to be eroded, rendering their spilled blood ineffective and given in vain.

Freedom costs dearly... Live it. Love it. And always remember to take a few simple moments of your time to guilelessly thank our veteran heroes for it. May God richly bless their souls, one and all.

We sent the following e-mail to Our Readers just yesterday:

Date: Monday, November 10, 2008, 4:14 PM

Hi There!

We are doing a combination post to honor our veterans on the annual day of remembrance tomorrow, November 11, 2008. Dena is preparing a video to accompany some thoughts I am assembling. We would like to invite you to send a picture of your family member or friend, who has or is proudly serving our great nation, for inclusion in the video tribute. Dena has offered this as a rather last minute thought, but has agreed to include any of your images received by midnight tonight, Eastern Time. The post will go up, in its' entirety, tomorrow morning. There is no implied requirement to include anything... merely an offer if it is to your liking. You are cordially invited to join us in celebration of all of our generations of truest heroes.

Blessings to you,

Defiant_Infidel

The response was impressive. Many sent in pictures of their friends and loved ones within hours, despite the very short notice. I interpret that to indicate how emphatically you agree with our wishes to pay our veterans, ALL our veterans, the HIGHEST RESPECT.

Miradena has included all the submitted loved ones and friends, who have proudly served all of us, in her following tribute video. I am positively sure you will enjoy it. Thanks, Dena!

God Bless America and our truly heroic veterans!