I watched game 3 of the 2013 World Series. It was the first major league game I had seen since last years World Series. Take Me out to the Ballgame was not sung during the 7th inning stretch. Instead, retired Marine Sgt. Dan Clark sang God Bless America. Sgt. Clark dressed in uniform with a chest and sleeves full of medals and sleeves full of patches delivered a soul moving rendition as several rows of active Marines stood at attention. For the first time, this song blurred my eyes with tears. I naturally thought of my 93 year old dad whom I recently buried. Pop was one of Tom Brokaws Greatest Generation, a World War II veteran. My tears were not tears of sorrow but tears of pride. I thought of other WW II vets I grew up knowing who are no longerwith us. I thought of friends from my generation who lost their lives in Vietnam. I have seen soldiers every day for the 37+ years I have lived Cumberland County. I thought of the personal friends and fellow church members who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. So you see Pop, I do miss you but I did not cry because you are no longer with us. My tears are tears of pride. I know the cost of freedom. We carry that torch of freedom around the world for others to see. We must not take a seat in a world government council. Our responaibility to all generations of veterans is to be a a lighthouse of opportunity, a lighthouse of hope and a lighthouse of freedom in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Our responsibility is to be a world leader and not a follower. The world has always looked upon us as a leader. We need no U.N. approval nor any other countrys OK. Pop, all these emotions and thoughts ran through my mind as Sgt. Clark sang. the tears that swelled up in my eyes were tears of pride. I am proud to be your son and as Lee Greenwood so boldly sang to our friends and foes of this universe, I am proud to be an American! Sgt. Clark, May God continue to prosper by honoring your requet in song, God bless America. Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her with a Light from Above. Your God will honor the Sgt.s request as long as In God, We Trust.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 07:51:31 +0000
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