Living Patriot

On Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, it was Living Patriot’s honor to present to retired Col. Jack Jackson, representative of District 89 in the State of Missouri with a Living Patriot Prism as a token of our appreciation for his service to our country as a combat pilot for the United State Marine Corp. as well as his service in the House of Representatives in Missouri where he serves as the Chairman of the House Veterans Committee. Don Fedorko, founder of the Living Patriot initiative presented Rep. Jackson with the Prism at a service held on the steps of the Soldiers Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri.

Rep. Jackson is a highly decorated pilot who flew over 600 combat missions, is the recipient of 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 33 air medals and most recently was awarded the Legion of Merit. Rep. Jackson’s resume is long and distinguished, but we want to highlight the work he has done, and continues to do to help Veterans and represent them in government.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the Armistice was signed by Germany ending World War I.  President Woodrow Wilson, on November 11, 1919, proclaimed that that day would become known and be celebrated as Armistice Day.  And thus began the United States recognition of those who valiantly fought to preserve our freedoms.   In the 1950’s the day was changed from Armistice Day, a day to celebrate the soldiers who fought in WWI, to Veterans Day expanding the celebration to include all those who fought, in any armed conflict, to protect the interests, freedoms and security of the United States of America.

On this day, I salute my Mom’s Dad, who stormed the beaches at Normandy and now lives a peaceful life in Idaho.  I remember my Dad’s Dad who also served in the Army during WWII and passed away when I was a teenager.  I honor my wife’s Dad who served in the Navy in Korea, my wife’s brother who served as a Marine in Desert Storm, my own Father who served as a member of the Idaho National Guard and I look forward to being the proud parent of a USAF cadet in the ROTC next year as my oldest daughter prepares to serve her country.

This is my place in the chain of sacrifice.  Each of us, whether we know it or not, find our place somewhere among the links of steel forged in the furnace of sacrifice.  I for one am proud of my position.  I look to these individuals who have committed to principles that are greater than themselves and have sworn to defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  Whether we choose to honor or demean these, they are responsible for your freedom to do so.  I choose to honor.  I choose to honor them and the principles they uphold.

In the middle of the night we sleep in peace because they have chosen to take a weapon and stand guard.  And they say to each of us, “sleep well, I will not let anything harm you on my watch, and if I can’t, I will die trying.”   As the motto of the United States Marine Corp so succinctly states:  “Semper Fidelis,” or “Always Faithful.”  That is something worthy of our remembrance and respect.

Let us know your place in the chain of sacrifice by leaving a comment to this post telling us who you celebrate on Veterans Day.

We at Living Patriot would like to add our voice to many others in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the friends, family and soldiers of Fort Hood in the aftermath of the terrible attacks yesterday. This attack reminds us of how fragile and fleeting that life can sometimes be. It’s not the deaths of these soldiers that we will remember but rather their lives. That they decided to stand for something bigger than themselves and becoming more by service to others than they could otherwise have been.

These events remind me of another tragic loss a little over a year ago when the crew of the bombing flight RAIDR 21 didn’t return from a training mission. One of my closest friends from childhood, when speaking at the one year anniversary of this loss in July, Lt. Col. Tyrell Chamberlain said:

“When RAIDR 21 didn’t return from their mission a year ago, we were all stunned. For some time, we worked through our feelings of loss, of grief, and of sacrifice. The tragic loss took our breath away and made us pause – and question…At the root of many of the answers we found the common theme: the men on RAIDR 21 gave their lives flying the aircraft they loved, serving their country, and demonstrating our common strength and resolve to protect our people and our way of life…They knew in their heart, that success lies in serving others, and pursuing a cause greater than ourselves…Continuing to fly and fight is just one way we honor the Airmen of RAIDR 21. We remember them by projecting airpower around the world to remind our adversaries and potential adversaries of the power and commitment of our great nation. We remember them by continuing our mission of vigilance, and providing the umbrella of deterrence to their families and ours.”

Like the members of that squadron, who honor their loved and lost by continuing their mission, so to will the brave men and women of Fort Hood go forth and continue to protect this great country.  We honor them for them for the lives they have led, and we remember them for the sacrifice they have made.

At Living Patriot we want to focus on those living Americans that have done so much to protect our freedoms and serve our country but it is important to acknowledge and honor those who have paid the ultimate price for this cause.  Each fallen patriot leaves behind a legacy in the hearts of those they left behind and we believe, that their families carry that torch for them and they become the next great Living Patriot in the chain of sacrifice.

In April of 2008 two Marines, Corporal Yale and Lance Corporal Haerter, from separate units stood guard at the Entry Control Point  of Joint Security Station Nasser in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.  A suicide bomber, intent on running the barricade and setting off his deadly cargo inside the station where 50 other Marines and Iraqi Policemen were going about their duties, sped towards the two sentry’s.  Working as a team, despite never training together, these two soldiers stood their ground and fired on the oncoming vehicle.  Their training and precise fire stopped the suicide bomber from breaking through and saved the lives of those behind.

During this engagement, both Marines lost their lives.

The following is an excerpt from the speech given by the Secretary of the Navy at the Navy Cross Presentation Ceremony honoring these men at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quanitco Virginia, February 20, 2009:

” As they have always done, our Marines are committed to doing that which our Nation has asked them to do, all the way through to its end.  We Americans can best honor our heroes’ service by ensuring that their sacrifice was not made in vain… they chose to leave these things behind and devote themselves instead to the calling of their country.  They gave their lives as they lived them, for truths as emphatic as they are simple:  Brotherhood.  Loyalty.  Devotion.  Sacrifice.”

Here is to our fallen friends, fathers, brothers, mothers, sisters and daughters.  May we never forget, nor forsake the cause for which they have so valiantly fought and gave their lives for.