Today is Memorial Day

Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Today, during our national recognition of Memorial Day, be sure to take time out to remember those men and women of the United States military (and those civilians, too) who have given their lives so that we may remain the last ember of true liberty in the world.

Today, I remember three specific groups of soldiers in particular:

First, those men who gave their lives on Takur Ghar in Afghanistan. A summary of the military action on Roberts Ridge is located here. http://www.defense.gov/news/May2002/d20020524takurghar.pdf
The sacrifices made that day in support of fallen comrades is moving. The dead of Roberts Ridge are:
Petty Officer 1st Class Neil C. Roberts, 32, Woodland, California
TSgt John A. Chapman, 36, Waco, Texas
Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham, 26, Camarillo, California
Pfc. Matthew A. Commons, 21, Boulder City, Nevada
Sgt. Bradley S. Crose, 22, Orange Park, Florida
Spc. Marc A. Anderson, 30, Brandon, Florida
Sgt. Phillip Svitak, 31, Neosho, Missouri

Second, I remember Staff Sergeant Morgan and Spc. Hall of the Second Platoon, Bravo Company, First Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 193 Infantry Brigade (Separate). Sergeant Morgan and Specialist Hall lost their lives while on patrol near La Ensanada, Panama during Manuel Noriega's drug money financed regime. While making a river crossing, several sharks attacked Sergent Morgan, who was the last of the platoon to cross the river. Believing Sergent Morgan to be drowning, Specialist Hall ignored the danger to himself and jumped back into the river in an attempt to rescue Sergeant Morgan. Both Morgan and Hall succumbed to the shark attack.

The third group of soldiers I wish to remember today are those that lost their lives on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Because of their impromptu heroic action, they became soldiers committed to defending the United States as surely as if each enlisted. I believe each of these civilians are true soldiers, made so because of their induction through combat against the enemies of the United States. The United States should declare each of these men and woman veterans, award each of them the military medals and citations appropriate to their actions, pay survivors benefits to their families, and memorialize these men and women in a way appropriate to the military nature of their action. Their heroic story is here:
http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20011028flt93mainstoryp7.asp

Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. May God bless their souls, and may God bless and protect our soldiers fighting still in the cause of the defense of the United States of America.