Let Freedom Ring

This week we celebrate Veteran's Day. We take time to thank the veterans we know for their service and sacrifices for our country and we take time to remember those men and women who gave their lives for our freedom.

My father-in-law, Steve Martin, is a member of The Marine Corps League, Flint Detachment. He served in the Vietnam War in Da Nang, Vietnam. He served in the Third Battalion, Eleventh Marine Regiment, a unit of The First Marine Division.

And he served with his best friend from grade school, Darrell Miller, who he is friends with to this day.



Last weekend we attended the annual Marine Corps. League Ball, to celebrate the 235th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I finally had the pleasure of meeting Darrell and quite a few of his family members. It was a fabulous evening, honoring the oldest Marine in their group, who was 94 years old, and the youngest Marine who was 28. There was also a table for one set, in remembrance of all of the POW-MIA who never made it home. The whole evening really proved what being a marine really means. And Steve was very proud to have his family and closest friends there to celebrate.



:::

Yesterday, the kids had the off of school, and we headed to the VA Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. They hold an annual Veteran's Day Program there, and Steve was a part of the tribute. I had never been to this cemetery and was quite impressed. This cemetery is the final resting place of more than 10,000 veterans and their dependents. It's like a smaller, but still profound, version of Arlington.



I took the kids, not only to see Grandpa at his finest, but also as a learning experience. Their favorite parts?

The National Cannon Salute:



The Rifle Salute, which could be heard but not seen. (Grandpa shot his rifle and the kids just thought that was the coolest thing!)

And the Military Flyover:



There were hundreds of people there, honoring members from every branch of the military: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, POW-MIA. It was quite touching to see the veterans stand as their branch was called. I'd wager that nearly half of the people in attendance were veterans or spouses of veterans.



It's easy to take our freedom for granted, or to forget the sacrifices our veterans and their families have endured and this week was a great reminder of those things.

Senator Debbie Stabenow was there, and perhaps she made the most lasting impression when she read this poem:

It's the soldier, not the reporter who has given us
Freedom of the Press.
It's the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
Freedom of Speech.
It's the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the
Freedom to Demonstrate.
It's the soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us the
Right to a Fair Trial.
It's the soldier who salutes the flag, serves under the flag and
whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who gives the protestor the right to burn the flag.

~Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC