PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

My father, an uncle ('Swede' is famous for killing a jap with a coconut), and both grandfathers protected our freedom in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam war. This is dedicated to them and the others who went before us and died to give us the lifestyle and flag that we frequently take for granted.

What is the most famous moment in military history to you? In February, 1945, the Marines stormed Iwo Jima. They battled to the island’s highest peak and raised our flag.

I highly recommend Flags Of Our Fathers if you want to learn more about the lives of the men depicted above.

This book is written by the son (James) of one of the flag raisers (John Bradley). He was one of the three survivors and the only one who refused to display any rendition of the immortal moment in his home but instead said ‘The real heroes of Iwo Jima were the guys who didn’t come back’. Wow. I don’t know if I’ve seen a stronger example of humility in my lifetime.

After John’s death, the family found boxes full of letters and photographs. This account was built from those since John spoke very little about the experience. The book details the lives of six very different men who came together for a moment that has been immortalized in Washington D.C. as perhaps the most recognized symbol this great country’s courage and unstoppable will.

This book left me singing ‘Proud to be an American/God bless the USA’ in my head and filled me with new appreciation of what I know as freedom.

The Iwo Jima memorial is located across the Potomac from DC in Arlington, VA. It is very close to Arlington National Cemetery.

Gone but not forgotten. The price for your freedom.	The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

There are many other noteworthy items in the cemetery: JFK's eternal flame and immortalized 'ask not' speech,  Audie Murphy, the Challenger crew, an amphitheater, and thousands upon thousands of uniform, white tombstones. Except for the Reflecting Pool and the Vietnam 'Wall' I found no other site upon my visits to DC to be more somber and humbling.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, known simply as 'The Wall' to the Vets. It is a plain, stark black wall with the names of all of those who gave their lives in the Vietnam War. It is located on the Northwest side of the mall. During my visit there were dozens of people climbing ladders, kneeling, with tracing paper, rubbing imprints of friends, fathers, mothers, fellow veterans. There is no site in my life that has filled me with more emotion and overwhelming sadness than seeing this firsthand. If you are not moved by its presence then you are heavily lacking in your humanity.

YES! It's that famous shot that occurs in almost every military drama or action movie in existence! Across the Potomac from the grounds of the Iwo Jima memorial you can see the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, and Capitol (in the far background).