A couple of Youtube movies to remember what we, as Americans, have been through and the expectation (can we say “obligation?”) that our forebears wished the cause of freedom and liberty would continue to flourish throughout our lifetimes as well:

From Jeff (FDR’s prayer):

From hotair.com (based on “America, the Beautiful”):

Personally, my maternal grandfather served in the South Pacific as a medic during World War II and lived many years later to tell about it. Another late family member flew quite a number of chopper sortis in Viet Nam when others weren’t willing to do so, risked his life and got a number of medals for doing so. My family and I have extended family and friends who are currently serving in the War on Terror on missions in the Middle Eastern theater; we pray for them nightly.

Thanks, ya’ll.

Let’s also not forget the words of “Ronaldus Magnus” (as El Rushbo would call him — via buzzbrockway.com via patriotpost.us):

“It’s been my responsibility, my duty and very much my honor to serve as Commander in Chief of this nation’s Armed Forces these past eight years. That is the most sacred, most important ask of the Presidency. Since our nation’s founding, the primary obligation of the national government has been the common defense of these United States. But as I have sought to perform this sacred task as best I could, I have done so with the knowledge that my role in this day-to-day-to-day effort, from sunrise to sunrise, every moment of every hour of every day of every year, is a glancing one compared to yours. But it’s not just your fellow Americans who owe you a debt. No, I believe many more do, for I believe that military service in the Armed Forces of the United States is a profound form of service to all humankind. You stand engaged in an effort to keep America safe at home, to protect our allies and interests abroad, to keep the seas and the skies free of threat. Just as America stands as an example to the world of the inestimable benefits of freedom and democracy, so too an America with the capacity to project her power for the purpose of protecting and expanding freedom and democracy abroad benefits the suffering people of the world.” Ronald Reagan

-Phil