My ggrandfather served from July 1862 and was mustered out about May 1865. He was disabled the rest of his life. His brother was killed in 1862. I have another quote: "Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." Franklin D Roosevelt Those who do not honor our fallen soldiers dishonor us all. Semper Fi Verle -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 7:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: FW: [MO-CW] Fw: patriotism Dear Chonna and fellow Missouri Civil War Researchers, John Hagee reminds us what all our veterans know, "Freedom is Not Free". I know the cost of war all too well, my gg grandfather died in a Federal Prison in 1863, my Father was KIA over Italy in 1944 and one of my best friends is on that low, dark granite wall in Washington, giving his life in 1969. I am not sure who said it but the rough paraphrase is, "those who do not understand history are condemned to repeat it". My three sons are well educated in the sacrifices members of their family have made. I do not ask or even encourage blind allegiance to any administration, or policy our country may pursue. Blind allegiance is not patriotism, but when the call is sounded the soldiers saddle up and prepare to do what we have done for 300 years defend our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. God bless our service people and may he protect them from harm. In their memory, "LEST WE FORGET" Bob Robert H. Meek, JR Colonel, USAR(RET) Hickory, NC Membership Director American World War II Orphans Network Associate Member Men of the 57th Bomb Wing Association Proud posthumous son and only child of 2LT Robert H. Meek 487BS 340th BG 57th BW 12th AF Copilot of B-25 7Z "Shirley Ann" KIA over the Magenta Bridge near Milan Italy October 19, 1944 At Eternal rest in the Sicily Rome American Cemetery Nettuno Italy Proud great great grandson of Private William B. Meek Co A 7th Missouri Infantry CSA Captured at the battle of Helena AR July 4, 1863 Died at the Federal Prison Alton IL December 23, 1863 Leaving a widow and seven children At eternal rest in the Confederate Cemetery Alton IL -----Original Message----- From: Chonna Denton [SMTP:[email protected]] <mailto:[SMTP:[email protected]]> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 11:26 PM To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: [MO-CW] Fw: patriotism I know that this really does not have to do with the Civil War, but after reading the earlier post about the flag in Missouri, I could not let this pass without sharing. Joe forgive me if this is inappropriate. But the message can not be ignored. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. Chonna Denton > The following passage is from a sermon by John Hagee: > > >>I want you to close your eyes and picture in your mind the soldier at > >>Valley Forge, as he holds his musket in his bloody hands. > >> > >>He stands barefoot in the snow, starved from lack of food, wounded > from > >>months of battle and emotionally scarred from the eternity away from > his > >>family surrounded by nothing but death and carnage of war. > >> > >>He stands though, with fire in his eyes and victory on his breath. He > >>looks at us now in anger and disgust and tells us this... > >> > >>I gave you a birthright of freedom born in the Constitution and now > your > >>children graduate too illiterate to read it. > >> > >>I fought in the snow barefoot to give you the freedom to vote and you > stay > >>at home because it rains. > >> > >>I left my family destitute to give you the freedom of speech and you > >>remain silent on critical issues, because it might be politically > incorrect. > >> > >>I orphaned my children to give you a government to serve you and it > has > >>stolen democracy from the people. > >> > >>It's the soldier, not the reporter who gives you the freedom of the > press. > >> > >>It's the soldier, not the poet who gives you the freedom of speech. > >> > >>It's the soldier, not the campus organizer who allows you to > demonstrate. > >> > >>It's the soldier, who salutes the flag, serves the flag, whose coffin > is > >>draped with the flag that allows the protester to burn the flag!!! > >> > >>"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they > protect > >>us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform > for > >>us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and > > >>Savior. Amen." > > ==== MO-CW Mailing List ==== MO-CW Mailing List Homepage: http://members.tripod.com/~DesotoJoe1/index-13.html <http://members.tripod.com/~DesotoJoe1/index-13.html> ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 <http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237> ______________________________