One more 4th of July Thought...

Our friend, Stephen Mansfield, author of the recently released book, The Faith of the American Soldier, has a moving post on his blog about the reaction he's getting as he tours the country promoting the book.

Please read it...

It happens almost every day. At a book signing or a speech or a television appearance, they find me. They are veterans of one of America?s wars or they are the mothers of soldiers in Iraq. Some are just back from Afghanistan and some are still haunted by Vietnam.

They approach me because they want to thank someone for honoring the valor of our soldiers. There are others far more worthy of this gratitude, but I am available so I listen to them as though receiving for our generation.

A mother starts to tell me what it means that I encourage prayer and understanding of her child in Iraq and she cannot finish her sentence. She collapses in tears in my arms. A Vietnam vet who got nothing but suspicion after he risked his life at his country?s bidding approaches me slowly. He wonders if I will honor him as I have the young who fight for us now. I do. In fact, I let my mushy side emerge and I give him a big hug and thank him for his service. When I let go, he tightens his arms around me. I realize it may be the first time anyone has told him what his country should have shown him time and again. He walks away wordlessly, tears streaming.

A father walks up to me, tries to speak, breaks into tears and then just opens his wallet to a picture of a khaki-clad young woman holding a two-year old child. This father is raising this child while his daughter is serving in Afghanistan. He cannot talk about it. He points to my book, puts his big hand on my shoulder and as he does I notice the tattoo that tells me he has known the taste of battle. He stands there, his big hand squeezing my shoulder, trying to tell me something that is too deep. He gives me a hard pat and walks away. I get it though. God, do I get it.

I must say this to the thousands who read this blog. I don?t care if you think we should not be in Iraq or Afghanistan. What I care about are the soldiers who are doing their nation?s bidding. If we treat them as we did the Vietnam generation it will be the ultimate statement of our moral poverty as a people. Love them. Honor them. Thank them. They didn?t start the war but they are fighting it well and they are long from being done. Let?s not help create another generation of haunted veterans. We are better than that and, more importantly, the sacrifices of our countrymen abroad call for the best we have to give.

More soon.

Posted by David at July 4, 2005 08:01 PM