Peter C. Lemon

Peter C. Lemon, service picture (homeofheroes.com)

I’m what you could call a fanatic. I obsess about what I love, and I love what obsess. One of the major things I obsess about is the military. I love the military and everything involved it. The armor, the weapons, the training, and the brothers made by such actions as joining and serving. I have a deep rooted love of our country. I still get angry when I see people flying our flag but they don’t take care of it, they don’t fly it half-mast, and don’t fly it with pride or reason. I’m just going to come out and say what the problem I have with today’s society. Today we don’t show enough honor for our soldiers!

Peter C. Lemon with medal (news.colostate.edu)

Are we so lightly taking the lives of our own, our men and women fighting for others who need help? Those who gave and give their lives knowing the risks and still fought!

These man and women sound like heroes to me. They didn’t have to serve but they did, they didn’t have to fight for freedom but they did. So why don’t we honor them? Why don’t we welcome them with open arms and put a medal around their neck? When someone dies do you not feel sad? When someone does do you not feel remorse? So why don’t we honor them? To me there is no reason why not to. This belief it is cool not to stand and sing the Pledge of Allegiance is utterly stupid to me.

Army Rangers in Vietnam (ng.mil)

My hero is a Medal of Honor recipient and a man who knows much of honor and loss. As an army ranger in the Vietnamese outpost, he was ambushed. His men were just getting back from a patrol and were jumped by the Vietcong. He refused to give ground and fought, while being severely wounded and carrying his wounded men to safety. Then after everyone was safe he returned fire on the enemy being injured further in the process. He eventually convinced the Vietcong to retreat back into the bushes from where the attack on their lives began. He then was administered to hospital for recovery. It took a little over a year to fully recovery from his injuries gained in his battle. A couple of years after his encounter with the enemy he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. It took many years and much convincing for the man to wear it because he felt that it didn’t belong to him. It belonged to those who fought and died that day back in Vietnam, and the men he served with.

flag

It is men like this who I honor with my life, not as a god or anything but as a brother. I have dedicated my life to remember those men who have died while serving our great country and to remember the men and women who are and were serving. All veterans hold a special place in my heart which no one else can earn. To me not all people are called to take this on. That’s why I have thought of 3 easy ways to honor our heroes and our country:
1. Say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, even if you don’t want to (remember this isn’t for you).
2. Become an informed voter and vote for whom you truly know will run our country the right way.
3. Whenever you see a veteran, walk up to them and say thank you for serving and shake their hand (it means more than you know). I will all these and serve in the armed forces. I will fight for God, family, and country.

To those who read this, I hope this opened your thoughts about what is happening today and I thank you for taking the time to read this all the way to the end.

-Lewis, James
2-19-10