southernclay
Member
This is something my brother wrote this week. I thought it was very touching and fitting for Memorial Day.
For many, Memorial Day is the big kickoff event to summer and a time forgrilling out and taking a day off of work. These activities are great, butlet's not forget the reason for Memorial Day while we enjoy ourselves. For me,Memorial Day is always tempered with a little sadness as I think of friendsI've lost and the great price our nation has to continually pay for ourfreedoms. Memorial Day is not the same as Veteran's Day but I can'thelp but think of my friends who are still in service including several who arecurrently deployed.
If you have never read the United States Armed Services oaths, I will sharethem below. One is for enlisted and the other for officers. I wasfortunate to have sworn in with both oaths and I also have sworn in many othersoldiers. "Swearing in" is a solemn but exciting time forthose who have done it.
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defendthe Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign anddomestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that Iwill obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders ofthe officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Codeof Military Justice. So help me God."
"I, _____, having been appointed an officer in the (military branch) ofthe United States, as indicated above in the grade of ___ do solemnly swear (oraffirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Statesagainst all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegianceto the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservationor purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the dutiesof the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."
This Memorial Day I hope you join me inremembering and honoring the fallen. If you are the curious type,search the internet and learn more about the history of Memorial Day(originally called Decoration Day).
For many, Memorial Day is the big kickoff event to summer and a time forgrilling out and taking a day off of work. These activities are great, butlet's not forget the reason for Memorial Day while we enjoy ourselves. For me,Memorial Day is always tempered with a little sadness as I think of friendsI've lost and the great price our nation has to continually pay for ourfreedoms. Memorial Day is not the same as Veteran's Day but I can'thelp but think of my friends who are still in service including several who arecurrently deployed.
If you have never read the United States Armed Services oaths, I will sharethem below. One is for enlisted and the other for officers. I wasfortunate to have sworn in with both oaths and I also have sworn in many othersoldiers. "Swearing in" is a solemn but exciting time forthose who have done it.
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defendthe Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign anddomestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that Iwill obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders ofthe officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Codeof Military Justice. So help me God."
"I, _____, having been appointed an officer in the (military branch) ofthe United States, as indicated above in the grade of ___ do solemnly swear (oraffirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United Statesagainst all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegianceto the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservationor purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the dutiesof the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."
This Memorial Day I hope you join me inremembering and honoring the fallen. If you are the curious type,search the internet and learn more about the history of Memorial Day(originally called Decoration Day).