Okay, I’ll admit it…I like Billy Ray Cyrus. He looked darned good back in the day with that mullet and sure sang the heck out of Achy Breaky Heart. But when I listen to that album, and I still do occasionally, the song that always gets me is “Some Gave All”.
“All Gave Some, Some Gave All
Some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some Gave All”
Written by Billy Ray Cyrus and Cindy Cyrus, that chorus makes me tear up every time I hear it. Some truly did (and continue to) give all, and that is what today is about. It’s not about politics. It’s not about Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. It’s not about war. What it is about is the amazing men and women who took an oath to do whatever was necessary, and did. It is about 116,516 Americans in WWI, 405,399 in WWII, 54,246 in Korea, 58,209 in Vietnam, 4,497 in Iraq, 2,216 in Afghanistan, and many more from other conflicts.
I doubt most of us can imagine watching a wave of soldiers storm a beach taking heavy fire and casualties, only to run in behind them as the next wave. That’s what they’ve done, though, over and over for us. If that doesn’t deserve a day of honor, I don’t think anything does.
Happy Memorial Day! See you on the path.
Talisa