Veterans Day Memories 2018

Good Monday morning Family and Friends,

I wanted to take this moment of pausing and “thanks” on this wonderful Veteran’s Day. I wish to reflect, once again, what many of us should be thankful for, and what makes Veteran’s Day so “Veteran’s” to me…and what I, in particular, my family and I give thanks for….”Lest We Forget”.  Much of below I have stated before, and yes, I will state it again, for I truly believe in the message.

Although many Americans this day in time, are demonstrating and destroying property…and in some cases…causing death and injuries….not because of who was elected…but as an excuse to exercise their violent means and try to justify the existence of their pseudo “organizations” of BLM / Move On / etc, etc…while the working class of America is Moving Forward and honoring this sacred day.

I served honorably for 20 years as a US Army Soldier….a Special Forces Soldier in fact. In addition to that I served over 20 years as an International Contractor, with over 7 years of it in Afghanistan and over 2 years in Iraq and Kosovo. I WILL bend a knee and take a knee for my Lord and Savior…I will STAND for my Country; My Flag, and will bow to NO MAN…but yet, like so many, I will offer the willing sacrifice to save others…without thought of hesitation!!!

I have served with, and supported some of the finest Americans… many are true leaders and honest Americans that believe in America…and just to name a few…Ben Sacolick; Ed Reeder; Remo Butler; Hector Pagan; Roy Trumble; Gary Utterback; Charlie Cleveland; Ernie Tabata; Sam Spears; Charlie Guest; Jose Olivero; John Engstrom; Donnie Pringle; Carlos Cruz; Tony Paniagua; Virgil Palk; Chuck Chiodini; Chuck Jenkins;  Mike Black; Jim Walker; Fred Lynch; MOH recipient Gary Littrell; Drehr Kinney; Jeff Dahlby; Larry Busbee; Wade Chapple; Jose Roman, Jim Walker and yes, many, many others as the list goes on…these are true, truly committed Americans that were my mentors, friends, leaders, and brothers in Arms….for them, I will never forget….it is to each of them I owe and render a great debt of respect, respect of which I do not give lightly…

While other demonstrate… it is because of the likes of those listed above they have that freedom…but with freedom comes responsibility…and those that are demonstrating and hurting others and calling for the assassination of our dedicated law enforcement officers, and those that call for violence against our elected president, and calling for the death of those that support him…well, that crosses the line of freedom of speech and assembly and moves into the category of INSURGENCY…of which I am sure they do not really want to go there.

The reason I mention the above, as on this day, it burdens my heart and saddens me…that on this day of honoring our veterans, these people cannot take a moment and reflect and honor our military…but yet, they wish to dishonor the day…and I am sorry for them. 

BUT I…I alone, with my two 4 legged kids, my wife, and my neighbor, look at my flag outside my home…and I reminisce of my times past…and my friends…and those that have the role now…and I pay homage to those that have followed in my footsteps…as I followed in those before me…

Lest We Forget!!!

Below, are “My memories”, repetitive again this year, but true all the same:

As a “southern boy” raised in the deep south, in Shreveport, Louisiana, I was raised with values of belief in our country, and to recognize the many sacrifices of those before us…so that we can enjoy our freedoms and success of today. The many freedoms that so many take for granted.

As I remember growing up, and listening to my Grandfather, talking about how it was BEFORE…. No, not before the real estate bust; and, no, not the first dot-com boom or the Reagan years; and no, not the '70s, the '60s, or the '50s either, but how it was in his time…a time when he was born in another century…and in the “Territory of Oklahoma”…and he watched several other states join the union…he watched two World Wars; he lived through the great depression; watched the first automobile; the first airplane; the first telephone; the first indoor flushing toilet; the first homes to receive electricity; the first radio, then later on, the first television;…and, most importantly, the unity and sacrifice of the many Americans to keep us strong, and together.  (How easily we forget that that was just two generations ago for me and my peers, and only one generation ago for my mentors). 

He explained about World War II, and graduating high school, and buying his first GMC, and everything that went with being young before the middle of the last century.

We talked about him being a high-schooler graduating in the mid-'10s. The Great Depression grinding on, and the guy across the way never finding a job; crying in the arms of your best girlfriend in the high-school hallway because your older brothers were shipping out to "The War" that day; ration stamps for meat and sugar and butter and gas (ration stamps! in the United States of America!!!! How much we have forgotten and taken for granted) along with the inevitable black market in fake stamps that you'd buy from somebody's cousin's friend; and the sense that your whole life had been under one darkening cloud after another, tempered only by the family bonds and friendships that had always been more important than material goods.  (This needs to be repeated again and again in our schools…for we no longer teach “civics” and “family unity” – thank you California…)

I sat many hours amazed at what, only two generations before me had to suffer and sacrifice through, so you and I, and our children would not have to suffer through what they did. A time when a man’s word was his bond…a time before lawyers…

And so I suppose if I am going to give thanks this week, this day, and EVERY DAY, it is going to be for those family ties and strong friendships that got us through tough times, and our country, which has grown rich, in the many years passed. We've grown into the greatest (best educated, healthiest, happiest, most-productive) nation in the history of the earth within the lifetime of my Grandfather, my father, and myself… they (our VETERANS) conquered scarcity and more than a few bad guys in their time, and we do indeed have an enormous amount to be thankful for.

So this Veteran’s Day, I am saying “thank you” for OUR Country, (and our Veteran’s that have Sacrificed ALL) the times we’ve been born in, the immense great fortune that goes along with it, and the chance to do the work I love so very much – helping our country project freedom from oppression and tyranny.

So here's a thanks to all of you who have made our lives what it is today, and what it will be tomorrow.  Friends and Family…never to be taken for granted…what a legacy to live up to every day…. but so much more than a legacy….a belief in what we do…every day. 

I would like to offer a Special Thank You, to my daughter, Jessica, whom is not only a Special Forces Daughter to be proud of, but the wife of a Bexar County (San Antonio), Deputy Sheriff, and supports him proudly. My “son” did take two rounds through his arm and into his chest (yes, he was wearing his Kevlar) and lived, and yes, returned to the streets of San Antonio, committed to taking care of his family…his brothers in Blue…his community, and representing his country and flag with pride.

I would like to also recognize and appreciate the Special Forces and Ranger Chapter of San Antonio that we there immediately to help my daughter and my “Son” during this incident…but that is what we do…we take care of one another…for we all still “believe”!

I truly appreciate the many of you that truly understand sacrifice and values of “honesty, integrity, and credibility” that have been tempered through the challenges of today’s challenges. It is you, people…not material things, that we are more than Thankful for – so, we more than appreciate you being part of the many great friends we have, and the many group of professionals that sacrifice so much being deployed overseas – for the ability to provide for your families…as well as the many that do not have to make that sacrifice…so, as my thanks are for my wonderful wife Monica and my daughter Jessica  that supports me, my friends that have stood by me for years, and years….I am just as thankful for YOUR family and friends that support you and your sacrifices to be here, doing what you do best.

I ask, that not only today and tomorrow, but every day, take a moment to reflect how fortunate we are…and to be thankful for what we have…mainly our family and friends around us….never take them for granted….

May God Bless, For Now and Always,

Mark –

“De Oppresso Liber”

     “Lest We Forget!”