It is easy for me to love the military men and women of our country and appreciate, in large measure, their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of their families...after all...Rich served in the Air Force for 22 years, and if truth be told, he'd probably have stayed for more if health had allowed it. Today Joey and Dan both serve, and are making careers of the Air Force. Joey is stationed at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Cailfornia and Dan is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. Robert served in the Marines. And, while loosely associated and not technically military, Mike works in the defense industry on many military projects in an effort to provide the support our military needs to stay cutting edge, strong and safe. Rich's brother, Bob, served in the Navy during Vietnam. And Rich's sister and brother-in-law both made careers of the Navy too. Three of their sons have served as well.
As a young child, one of my earliest memories is that of my Uncle Vance returning home to California in his uniform. He was my favorite uncle, that may be because I saw the uniform and thought he was my Dad who was serving in Korea and then Japan. Mom and I were living with my Grandmother while Dad was gone. Not only did my Uncle Vance serve, but so did my Uncle Ted (he served in WWII), Uncle Jack (also WWII), and my Uncle Gayle, and his family, paid the ultimate price when he was killed in Korea. My Grandfather, Gilbert Roskelley, also served in the army during WWI.
Rich's Uncle Romanus was killed in action in Europe during WWII during the fighting at the "Bulge" and today there is a memorial to him and others from their small North Dakota town, who fought and died serving and defending our nation. Rich's father also served during WWII.
As I stop and reflect on the service of so many to our beloved country, I have to realize that these men and women are just those in my conscious memory...the reality is that there are countless more that served that I'm just learning about or realizing of their sacrifices as I contemplate how deep and long the love for our country is, how much freedom has meant to the men and women in our families, and how often they have been willing to pay the ultimate price to defend her...and how grateful I am for their sacrifices because, even though I get discouraged about where our country is heading, the fact is, she is still the most divinely inspired country on the planet, and it is precisely because good men and women, throughout our history, have been willing to lay it all on the line to birth her and defend her that I have the freedoms I do, and count myself truly blessed to have the opportunity to be an American.
There is Capt. David Perry (1741-1826), a soldier of the French and Revolutionary War. He wrote a book, Recollections of an Old Soldier, that is quite rare (only two copies are still known to exist) that details his "experiences from the time he was sixteen years old until 1776 - during which period he was a soldier with Abercrombie at Ticonderoga, then with Wolfe at Quebec, then in 1762 with the British in Newfoundland and finally with Washington at the siege of Boston." He truly saw and experienced the birth of our nation first hand. He is of the line that Joey used to become a "Son of the American Revolution" this past summer.
There is Rich's great-great- grandfather, John Bainbridge, who was an immigrant from England who answered the call to serve by enlisting in the New York 64th Volunteers during the Civil War. He lost his life following the battle of Fredircksburg, VA and is buried in Washington, D.C. leaving his wife and two young sons.
I think of my great-great-great grandfather, Erastus Bingham, Jr., and UnclesThomas Bingham, Thomas and Elijah Freeman of Company B and David and Lott Smith of Company E who enlisted in the Mormon Battalion to fight for the United States in the Mexican War, even though the Saints had left the boundaries of the United States and had been so cruelly treated by its government and some of its citizens. There will be some who believe they only went for the money, but there is ample evidence that the Saints still felt a loyalty and allegiance to the United States and belief in her and her cause that compelled them to join the fight.
As a girl, living in Germany, I often had opportunity to be on a military installation during retreat or taps. I frequently visited military theaters and always thrilled as the audience stood for the national anthem prior to the movie. I loved living in El Centro and going to the fireworks display for the 4th of July and hearing Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" over the speakers. Etched into my memory forever will be the streets of Elizabethtown, KY all the way to Fort Knox lined with Americans and American flags proudly and solemnly waving following 9/11. I understood the surge of patriotism that rushed in our hearts and the desire of so many to defend her.
I've been working on my "Moroni Quilt" for a very, very, very long time. It is nearly done. Today I hope to finish the quilting in the border which reads, "The Title of Liberty". Along two of the borders I have quilted CTR shields. It reminds me that we are a divinely established nation. Unique in all the world. And that we have been great because we have been good. We have loved The Lord and tried to do the right thing for the right reason, not unlike Moroni of long ago. And, gratefully we honor the men and women who have and continue to defend us. May we always strive to be worthy of the Lord's blessings.
