Conservative Donnybrook

On this Memorial Day, Conservative Donnybrook would like to thank the men and women of our armed forces for the valiant service and sacrifices they have made on behalf of their country and fellow citizens. Without these exemplary citizens, we would not enjoy the freedoms and advantages that come from being born in the United States of America. It is because of their efforts that we can unabashedly say that we live in the greatest nation ever to grace this earth.

On this date, our nation is engaged in a life-and-death struggle against Islamic jihad. Our armed forces are on the front lines pushing back the efforts of these religious extremists who would take the hard-fought freedom to worship as one wishes away from Americans. Because of their efforts, the jihad has been contained to the Middle East. For six and half years, we have been sheltered from the evils of terrorism visited upon innocent Americans in their homeland.

Today, many in the Middle East can look forward to the possibility that they will be able to pursue their lives in relative freedom from the tyranny of despotic regimes who do not think twice about liquidating thousands of citizens because of they express a desire for the freedoms which we as Americans take for granted. Those people, whose purple thumbs attested to their desire for a new future, like those of us in America, can thank the men and women of the United States armed forces for this opportunity.

While it is especially proper to thank those who are answering the call today, we’d also like to recognize the veterans whose service these men and women emulate. In particular, I would like to thank the veterans of Vietnam, among whom my own father is one. It is especially important to remember these veterans who fought in a war, like the current Gulf War, that was unpopular with a segment of the population. A week ago Saturday, the city of Indianapolis held a special ceremony welcoming home our veterans of the Vietnam War. Astonishingly, when these men arrived home, they were not welcomed but vilely excoriated. These were men of honor who fought bravely at Hue, Saigon, Dak To, and Khe Sahn and places no one has ever heard of. Welcome home and thank you.

We thank all of our veterans whether they are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan today, the First Gulf War, Somalia, Yugoslavia, Panama, Beirut, Grenada, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, the Bay of Pigs, Lebanon, Korea, or in either of the World Wars. We also thanks those who stood ready as soldiers in our armed forces, but who were not called to arms. Thank you.