Occasionally people have enough self-awareness that they understand that something they are witnessing is bigger than themselves. Moments such as when man stepped on the moon for the first time and September 11, 2001.
Abe Lincoln had clarity of purpose and place when he used a mere 272 words in the Gettysburg Address to remind us that the “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” His task was to dedicate a great bloody battlefield as a resting place for the valiant soldiers who had fought there; he knew his words could not capture or match the valor or their deeds.
Abe said it this way, “in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”
Recently, at a funeral for a friend I had the privilege to meet three men that had traveled to bury one of their brothers in arms. These men were Special Forces Green Berets: Caleb Brewer-Sergeant First Class, Spenser Lake-Staff Sergeant, Ed Cook-Warrant Officer. They had trained alongside my friend at Fort Bragg. These men had reached out to me because they wanted to meet the man that had written the article “Cookies for Gino”.
I met them after the funeral in the church parking lot; these three men walked up to me and wanted to shake my hand and had brought me a gift (bottle of Bourbon) to let me know how much they appreciated what I had written; grateful that I captured the struggle of one of their brothers in arms; whose experience is common to so many others.
I was shaken to the core. These three soldiers were true American heroes. One had fought alongside Aaron Butler, one had lost both legs in the war, one was a commander in the Green Berets. And they were here to meet and honor me. I have never felt so humble and inadequate. How could I explain that it was I that needed to express my appreciation and gratitude for their service and sacrifice. We here in San Juan County know something about the price of freedom; some of our very finest have given all. There are parents, wives, grandparents, siblings, and friends that still experience a grief that can’t be spoken, but we are proud to salute and honor our service men and women.
My voice cracked with emotion as I tried to explain that the service and sacrifice that Aaron Butler, Jason Workman, and Nathan Winder had given for their country was so much more than my words could describe or pay tribute to. My words could not capture or match the valor or their deeds. Like President Lincoln, I could not dedicate, I could not consecrate or hallow the ground they had just placed their fellow brother in. It was clearly above my power to add or detract from the testimony of their lives of valor and honor, their dedication, and actions.
I have stood at The National Mall in DC and read the names of the 56 people that signed the Declaration of Independence; they were signing their death warrant and they knew it. What kind of courage and commitment does it take to stand up to evil and to a world superpower and tell them, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness”? Who even talks like that anymore? Who so loved freedom that they were willing to give all they had. I was shaking the hand of three Green Berets that were, and I have known good men from San Juan County that did. When Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Our finest stood ready to do whatever was necessary.
Recently the withdraw of troops from Afghanistan has me wondering how much money, how many lives were given, how many sacrifices were given over twenty years; and then to walk away, seemingly to end up right back where we started.
Did we learn that freedom and self-governance is not a gift we can give to a country, rather it is something that must be earned, won when necessary, and passionately protected? When Thomas Jefferson said, “”the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” He and our soldiers were willing to die for the principles of living life on their terms, having liberty to do as their conscious dictated, and to pursue happiness.
Margaret Mead wrote, “Never Doubt That A Small Group Of Thoughtful Committed Citizens Can Change The World: Indeed It’s The Only Thing That Ever Has.” Our boys from San Juan County didn’t want to die for us, but if that is what was asked, they bore that cross with honor and valor. Because they knew that freedom is never free. They were trying to change the world, by their commitment to words like “freedom” but most importantly by their selfless deeds to serve our country.
I salute these fine young men; these Special Forces Green Berets that taught me a lesson in tradition, honor, valor, and service. And I salute and honor the fine men and women from San Juan County. Like our local veterans these Green Berets are the best America has to offer.
I have written enough to know that this week’s award-winning article is next weeks kitty litter liner. I know the “world will little note, nor long remember” what I say in my newspaper column. But I believe our work is to continue living, to be inspired by their service is how we honor those that have served this country. “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”