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Who can define love of country? What does it mean?
You can’t touch it – though you can most
certainly feel it. It’s not something tangible – yet it is very
real. Known by synonyms like patriotism, it moves men and women to
perform uncommon acts on behalf of strangers they know only as fellow
citizens and on behalf of abstract ideas like liberty and freedom.
We love this country because it provides for us in
ways other countries do not – or cannot – for their citizens.
Certainly other nations are free. Certainly other nations have various
degrees of liberty. But no other nation on the planet has ever
benefited from the combination of blessings we cherish in America.
That’s why we in the North Carolina National
Guard, and people in the uniform of the United States around the
world, serve this great and wonderful republic.
It has given us the opportunity to make our lives
our own – and what a blessing that is. We can build homes, families
and businesses, worship how we please, make law and ascend to the
highest levels of industry, society and government based on the
strength of our minds and the sweat of our brows.
Out of the ashes of the World Trade Center, the
Pentagon and the fields of Pennsylvania has risen a new pride in the
idea of America. And it is worth fighting for.
But the professional soldier does not relish
conflict. Instead, we train hard, stay vigilant and always prepared
– in order to deter it. When our country calls, such as in this time
of great sadness and emergency, we will answer to preserve the
freedoms we cherish, restore the peace we enjoy and seek justice for
those wronged by the perpetrators of unspeakable acts. It is
exhilarating to see our citizens, military and not, united like few
times in history in the pursuit of these goals.
We are the greatest nation the world has ever known.
We welcome others to our shores with open arms in the hope they will
fulfill their dreams of a better life as those nation builders who
came before us have so ably done. Our openness is a virtue, our common
desire for freedom is our strength and our love of this country and
all it stands for is our bond.
America has been good to us. And as she has loved
us, we, all of her citizens in uniform and not, will return the
affection with dedication and sacrifice.
God bless America.
MG William E. Ingram, Jr. |
