WOULD YOU DIE FOR YOUR COUNTRY?

Anyone you talk to, especially our young adults, will quickly tell you that they would die for their family. Many people will tell you that they would die for their faith. Sacrificing one’s life for one's loved ones or our Lord is not too big of a stretch to make. You can hear comments like these most anywhere from men and women from all walks of life, regardless of whether or not such claims will ever truly be known.

But what about one’s country? Would you die for it? Would you sacrifice your life for your nation?

The answer to this question is obvious and straightforward. The men and women of our Armed Forces would not have joined the military in a time of war were they unwilling to put their lives on the line for their country.

While some struggle with the reality of taking the life of someone else, the vast majority of the Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors I have known throughout my life wouldn’t think twice about giving their life for the nation they love.

But would you? Would you die for your country?

Would you sacrifice yourself, knowing how the loss of your life would affect your loved ones and your friends? Give all for your country? Would you sacrifice your life for the benefit of your fellow countrymen, people you have never met or known?

I’m trying to figure out how important your country is to you. Again, I’m assuming that family and faith are non-negotiables for most. These are the things for which one would (even if reluctantly) die. But is the same true about one’s nation? Is your country that important?

We talk a lot in this country about how great America is despite its many problems. We use terms like freedom and liberty as though the United States is the last protector of them. It seems America has become the sole defender of democracy worldwide and the rights it preserves. Even when we travel abroad and see the ridiculousness of many American “isms”, we still put our nation on a pedestal. America is the greatest. That’s what we say, that’s what we believe.

But are you willing to put your words to the ultimate test? Is the United States, what it stands for, and its well-being so crucial that you would do anything and everything within your power to advance its cause? Would you stand tall for these United States, as less than 0.5% of our population does? If put in the situation where you were asked to sacrifice yourself for our nation, would you do so? If so, why? Why would you be willing to give your life for your nation? If not, what is your reluctance? What could possibly be more important?

I ask you these question, not because I’m looking for patriotic martyrs or because I think only those who serve in the Armed Forces can answer “yes”. Instead, I ask you this question so that you can reflect on just how important America is to you. There is no better way to understand that level of importance than asking if you would die for America. Is your nation that important? Especially today, Memorial Day!

For one point one million American men and women since the beginning of the Revolutionary War, that answer has been “yes,” I will fight for and die for my country.

Today is Memorial Day, a day to remember the heavy price so many have paid so that the rest of us can retain our God given rights to freedom, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, the American Dream. Today is a day to honor the memories of members of our military forces who were killed while serving our country.

Because Memorial Day is a somber day to honor those who died in service to the country, saying “Happy Memorial Day” is considered bad taste. For those who have lost family or friends through military service, the day is far from happy. If you need to say something, try “Have a blessed Memorial Day.”

While you consider the past sacrifices already made by so many American men and women in defense of our values and our way of life, always keep in mind that days will most certainly come again when our fellow countrymen will once again be asked to put their lives on the line for our nation.

Ronald Reagan said it best, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

For those who have lost loved ones in the defense of our Nation, may God bring peace to your mind and soul in the knowledge that of all the people we are quick to call “hero,” your loved one is the one who can truly be called “Hero.” Unlike all the others we call “Hero,” they had to endure days, weeks, and months of facing potential death at any moment, yet they never wavered.  They did what the other 99.997% of our population were never called upon to sacrifice—their lives.