A Glimpse of the Cost of Freedom

  

Today is the day to remember and thank those who have given their lives to the preservation of pur liberties - both Civil and Religious. The blood of those who have died has watered the Liberty Tree throughout the centuries for American patriots.

For Christ and Kirk!
The Scottish Wars for Independence

We find the words to this poem by one of our favorite poets, Robert Burns, extremely relevant today...

(Here's the "English" version!)

Scots, who have with Wallace bled,
Scots, whom Bruce has often led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victory.

'Now is the day, and now is the hour:
See the front of battle lower (threaten),
See approach proud Edward's power -
Chains and slavery.

'Who will be a traitor knave?
Who will fill a coward's grave?
Who's so base as be a slave? -
Let him turn, and flee.

'Who for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fall,
Let him follow me.

'By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be free.

'Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall in every foe,
Liberty is in every blow,
Let us do or die!

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The French and Indian War

The American War for Indepndence

The War of 1812

"Where are you going, Great-Heart,

With your eager face and your fiery grace?

Where are you going, Great-Heart?"

"To fight a fight with all my might,

For truth and justice, God and right,

To grace all life with His fair Light."

Then God go with you, Great-Heart!

Where are you going, Great-Heart?

"To cleanse the earth of noisome things,

To draw from life its poison stings,

To give free play to freedom's wings."

Then go with you, Great-Heart!

Where are you going, Great-Heart?

"To lift today above the past,

To make tomorrow sure and fast,

To nail God's colors to the mast."

Then God go with you, Great-Heart!

--John Oxenham

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The Mexican War

The Southern War for Independence

The Spanish American War

Each donned their uniform to be

Defenders of our liberty

Their mission sure, their spirits bright

Guard freedom’s home, be brave to fight

One final day each faced their call

Each gave their best enduring all

We’ll never know what they went through

But know they loved this country true

Deep down inside we should all feel

What heroes gave, their cost so real

We must stay thankful, grateful of

The gift of freedom through their love

Their loved ones bore the gravest pain

What we can’t know, some now sustain

To God I pray their pain will cease

And each will find long-lasting peace

Remember this from year to year

What heroes gave – shan’t disappear

We’ll never let their special day

Their time for honor slip away

These brave fought for a nation free

If not for them, where would we be?

--Roger J. Robicheau

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World War I

 

World War II

The Korean War

The Vietnam War

The Persian Gulf War

The Afgahn/Iraqi War

We thank all our brave men who have sacrificed to keep our freedom and we thank those who are sacrificing right now. May we be ready and willing to do the same for future generations.

Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, [which is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Nehemiah 4:14b

~Kitty