Post One Sick Call

When it comes to bestowing honor, there is no one more deserving than the American Soldier. Of those who have shouldered the burden commensurate with furthering a noble and worthy cause, no one stands taller than He. Back across the ages, from some infinite point, there has always been a commonly identifiable ingredient--The Soldier---that always necessary and always available and always expendable component. There have been uprisings, forays, insurgencies, civil disturbances, police actions, protective incursions, revolutions-- the list goes on-- as far back into the strides of history as is available to our reach. Through it all it has been the ultimate, uncompromising duty of the soldier to wrest the initiative from the adversary, support the succeeding social structure his efforts have put in place and maintain the livelihood and mores of the new order. Identifying names have been assigned to various time frames: Egyptian Charioteers, Roman Legions, Mongolian Hoards, Crusaders, Spanish Conquistadors, and on and on; all moving under their own banners and they were soldiers all. Closer in and of our more immediate concern is where are We today as our own American Soldier takes his place in that ever evolving, cascading, historic propagation? Entering into the language of today's communication ethics are words and phrases which a few short steps back into yesterday, when mentioned, would have been dismissed as being too alien to be meaningful. Affixing themselves to our vocabulary and appearing more prevalent in use are: Sectarian, non- sectarian, secular, non-secular and the like. So, as the American Soldier undertakes his enormous role as Atlas to a beleaguered world, may his posture reflect his resolve throughout this tour of duty. Meanwhile, may we not be flagging in our assurance that a greater devotion and conviction has no one than He who willingly steps forward and offers his last full measure to GOD, Country and Fellow Man.

Charles Birdsong

Nov. 10, 2007