Service is a Sacred Duty of a Free People

It was hard growing up in my family not to be influenced by duty; it was hard growing up in my family not to be influenced by honor, commitment, by the calling to serve. My father, now long gone, was a Korean combat veteran and a former New York City Police Officer who taught me more about honor, commitment, sacrifice, duty and love…and yet never used any of those words. He was one of the smartest men I ever knew and yet he had only a 10th grade education. He was a very tough guy; his expectations for his children were that they pursue the truth, that everyone deserved to be treated with dignity and respect and that we had a moral obligation to this, the greatest nation on the face of the planet. It is no wonder that our family has served this great nation for over four generations in both military services and/or in public service.  

I am, however, reminded that as we enter the Memorial Day weekend, that military service is a special kind of service, a special kind of commitment; and here we are, a nation still at war and yet a nation who’s people daily enjoy the benefits of liberty and freedom. You see those who wear and who have worn the uniform have others who tell them where to serve, where to live and what risk to take…because the needs of the nation always comes first…before family, before self…the needs of the nation always, always comes first. Yet it should be no surprise for any of us who have the good fortune of being born in this great nation about the sacredness of duty and service, for those who love freedom and protect and defend liberty. Even in the midst of a season where many of our own uninformed and ignorant citizens protest that nationalism is somehow fascist or racist, there remains tens of thousands of American men and women who freely stand up and volunteer, knowing full well of the sacrifice, knowing full well of the risk, knowing full well of the danger that they may have to lay their life down in defense of our nation, in defense of liberty and freedom…men and women in this great nation still stand up and say I will go because they fully recognize that Service is a Sacred Duty of a Free People! And to that end, that Service comes at a great sacrifice which is why we humbly and often mournfully celebrate Memorial Day. 

So this Memorial Day I again encourage you to consider the real meaning of this holiday; to remember that it is the great sacrifice of those men and women who have given their full measure so that you and I may enjoy the liberties and freedom we sometimes take for granted. I pray the Lord’s peace and comfort to those who remember the pain and sorrow this Memorial Day brings, and I thank the families who willingly gave up their loved ones for the sake of this great nation of ours. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

?James L. Capra (Jimmy) is an author, professional speaker and the CEO of The Front Line Leadership Group. Jimmy served in three separate military branches and subsequently retired after serving nearly three decades as a federal narcotics agent. He and his wife Michelle are the proud parents of six children, most who are pursuing public service professions. More information can be found on www.frontlineleadershipgroup.com