Remarks By Curtis Wright: Veteran’s Day 2011

Remarks by Curtis Wright
Cumberland County Republican Party Veteran’s Day Barbeque
Gillis Hill Farm, Fayetteville, North Carolina
November 13, 2011

They have come from the Coastal Plain, the hollers, the lake lands, the Mountains, and the Great Plains. They have come from our settlements, our villages, our towns, our great modern cities. They are our farmers, our shopkeepers, our managers and supervisors, our business owners, and even our Titans of Industry. They are our Grandparents, our Fathers and Mothers, our sisters and brothers and cousins.

When the call went out to the forests and wooden forts of our new Colonies, down through each generation, to the brownstones of our teaming cities, the call has been answered with consistent determination and courage.

When faced with starvation, disease and death, in the snows of Valley Forge, and the hope of a free and independent Nation seemed all but lost, they rallied, inspired and determined in unity, to overcome the temptations of the ‘Sunshine Patriot’ and ‘Summer Soldier’, to deliver the dream of that which is America.
When flung into battle and terror on far off beaches, and dropped into the fields, and forests of occupied territories, no matter the odds, or magnitude of the force, they met their enemies with valor, and even compassion, in ways never before seen in the annals of human warfare.

Over 124, 000 lay in hallowed fields and pastures in foreign lands, never to return home to the arms of their loved ones. Hundreds of thousands rest in peace, in the shadow of their Nation’s homeland, which, for their deeds, has thrived in historic tranquility.

They have returned home from the unspeakable terrors of War, from every corner of the Earth, to rebuild and renew our Nation, generation after generation. They have liberated, nurtured, comforted, inspired, and ensured Freedom, Liberty and Prosperity, in thousands of lands, for hundreds of millions of souls so yearning.

They have come in the time of crisis and need. They have stood, steadfast, as examples, in times of peace.

They are our American Patriots. They are our American Soldiers. They are our Americans Veterans.

This is their story, the unequaled history of a brotherhood of generations of Patriots: a story that we, as Americans, are called down through the ages to tell.

It is right. It is proper. It is our solemn duty.

For those who have given so much, sacrificed and served our nation so bravely and honorably, for those who continue to inspire us to greater good, and, those who have given their last full measure of devotion. It is the least we can do. It is the least that we must do.

President Kennedy said; “America’s Veterans have served this country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world….and, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

General Washington reminded our fledgling Nation that “the willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how just, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation”.

During this special “Heroes Homecoming” week, we acknowledge, as a Nation, our past shortcomings. May we never again so dishonor our Veterans …those who were called, who served, who sacrificed, who laid down their lives as ordered, so honorably in the service of our Nation.

May we as American Citizens, and in particular, Republicans, honor our Veteran’s service, by honoring the principals and ideals of our unique American Nation, the principals and ideals of our unique American form of Government. Let us ‘Citizen Soldiers’ of the Republic, of our American Democratic heritage, fight just as courageously for that which was given and preserved for us, by the blood and sacrifice of our forefathers and Veterans.

We find ourselves, fellow Republicans, at another historic moment, another crossroads, in the life of our Nation.

We, yes we here, as American Republicans are called to come to the aid of the Republic. Once again, as Ronald Reagan said;

“Americans are hungry to feel a sense of mission and greatness.”
“Our people look for a cause to believe in. It is a Republican Party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors, which will make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?

A Republican Party that understands and believes it cannot be all things to all people. A Republican Party, he said, that must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

In his call to action, Ronald Reagan believed that he had not proposed anything that was, or is, contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. He believed, “at the same time, such was the very basis of Conservatism”. His call to action is as clear today as it was then: “It is time to reassert those
Republican, Conservative principles and raise them to full view”. And, I believe, as he believed, if there are those among us who cannot subscribe to these Republican, Conservative principles, then let them go their way.”
Let us, as Republicans, as Conservatives, as the Citizen Soldiers, in honor of our American forefathers and Veterans, once again, rise to the occasion, summon our political courage and will, light the way for this and yet unborn generations. Let it be said of us Conservative Republicans, when our time of service is through….when the call came, the call was answered, that we did our duty, we preserved the Republic here at home, we preserved our American principals and ideals, our American liberties and freedoms.

As the grateful recipients of the greatest gifts of Freedom and Liberty, gifts our Veterans have bestowed and preserved, may we always honor all our veterans, and all they have done for our Nation, by telling their story to our children, accepting their personal struggles of understanding their service, by keeping our promises of care, and honoring their sacrifices by always striving for Peace, here at home, and around the World.

Thank you, to all our Veterans here today. Thank you from a grateful grandson and son of Veterans. Thank you from a grateful Father. Thank you from a grateful Nation.

God Bless You, God Bless America and all her Patriots.

Curtis Wright

(please note that the grammar used above reflects the speech ‘as given’ by Curtis Wright)

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Posted by curtiswright on Nov 14 2011. Filed under Military, Op/Ed. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.