Yes, today is July 4th. It is a time to celebrate the independence of our great country. A time to laugh and cheer and shoot off fireworks. And yes, it is a time to remember the reasons we call ourselves Americans.
That’s partly what I want to write about, but I want to write about the real reason we are Americans. The real reason we are able to celebrate as we do.
Those who protect us.
They are out there, guarding the freedom we enjoy everyday. Yes, I want to thank them, but I also want to do something else.
I want to raise awareness.
I see people doing the 22 Pushups Challenge to raise awareness for PTSD. Although I have not done that, I am doing this.
I have quite a few family members in the armed forces, whom I hold especially dear to my heart.
I’m afraid for them. Not for what they may face out in the line of duty, but for the prejudice they may receive when they come home.
I was at a McDonald’s in Eastern Oregon a while back, as I got out of the car I saw a homeless man. He was in a ragged shirt and cargo pants, and had an ARMY hat. I know many will say, “He probably just got the hat from someone else.” I must confess I thought that at first myself, but the more I observed him, the more I knew he didn’t. He had earned that hat.
My heart sank. He was one of our own. We left him.
He was sitting on a curb in the sun, so I gave him half a pizza I was saving for later and my sister gave him some cash.
He was truly one of the most thankful men I have ever met.
As we drove away my heart felt broken, he had only signed up to give a few years, and he had lost the rest of his life, suffering the effects of his term.
That is why I’m afraid for those I love in the forces. So many of those who have gone before them are left behind by the nation they served. They are abandoned because we don’t “understand” them anymore.
I know, many times when they come back, they are not the same. When this happens, we must accept who they are and do everything in our power to pull them out of the darkness they are living in. Perhaps we must even join them for a while, simply to lead them back to the light.
This 4th of July, as we have a happy time with our friends and family, don’t forget the men who gave so much for this country. They have scars left that may be revealed, especially during this time of year. With fireworks and excitement, remember those who may be effected by the commotion. Some came home in body, but not in spirit. We must fight for them, and never let them be forgotten.
We must stand together, no man gets left behind.
