Boy Scout Troop 325

Scoutmaster Minute

We Honor Our Veteran's On Memorial Day

June 13, 2004

The following was sent to me in an e-mail by Lori Sorabji. I would like to share it with you if I may:

It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Veteran, who salutes the Flag.

Included in this e-mail, was a photograph of a parade. An honor guard was passing carrying the American flag. As you may know, the American flag represents America, the land, the country, the laws, the people; all of them. Proper courtesy is to stand when the flag passes. In the photograph, everyone watching the parade is seated along the curb of the sidewalk. One man, a veteran, is standing. He has pushed himself up with his arms out of the wheel chair he was sitting in. One man. A Veteran. In a wheel chair.

Respect your country: the land, its laws, and its people. Ours is the greatest nation on Earth; the longest country in continuous existence. The first, true democracy. The nation with the greatest diversity, and the greatest tolerance for diversity. The nation with the greatest number of freedoms. The nation with the highest quality of life.

Thank you, and God be with you.