For every white cross. . . .

by porscheman2944

Today as we remember those who have fallen protecting not only our country, but our freedoms and our liberties.  Each and every cross has a story to tell.  Each cross has a family missing a member. Each cross is a permanent reminder that someone was willing to sacrifice their lives and freedom so others shall stay free. Every white cross standing in those fields of green reminds us of a world so different now that those men and women are gone. Wives lost husbands, children are going without parents to watch them grow up. Mothers and fathers have lost sons and daughters and missed out on the lives they would have led.

Every white cross remembers men that gave all they had, scared to death of dying in a foreign land so far away from home.  Every cross reminds us that these men not much older than boys were willing to sacrifice their blood, sweat and tears, willing to die for one another at the altar of freedom.  For every white cross  meant these men were to live free or die trying.  For every white cross there is a story, one of companionship and camaraderie that can only be had by brothers in arms. A story of men dying on foreign beaches knowing the dangers but going anyway.   Stories of men dying in jungles in a world so different than their own. Stories of jumping out of planes when scared of heights, Going up against unsurvivable odds  and going anyway. Stories of genocide and destruction that has been brought on the world but fight to stop it and still see the good in man. stories of roadside bombs and friends dying in your arms mangled and torn helpless to only pray and go on and fight another day.

Every white cross there is a family that will visit, they will break out the old photos and recall old stories of the memories they had and bring to life this person that the younger generations never got to meet. Every white cross there is a wife still mourning about the husband she had to bury, about the life she will never have or the chance to grow old with someone she loved.  Every white cross there are kids that grow up knowing only a man they met in pictures or remember from a very young age, only to wonder if they would be proud of them today.  Every white cross represents the family that when a name is brought up or a child ask a question it is only answered by silence, because no one can bear the pain to speak. Years have passed but just the mention of the name takes them back to a place there was a knock on the door. a phone call, a letter and the emotions are too much to talk about.

Every white cross is a monument to the brave man or woman that was willing to leave everything they know to fight for a cause that they believed in a foreign place they knew little about because they knew they were fighting for one of the greatest nations in the world.   Every white cross there was someone that understood freedom, sacrifice, dedication, bravery, loyalty and commitment.  Under every white cross there is a U.S. soldier that gave his life so we could be free.   Take a minute and watch the video and realize the cost of freedom was paid by each and everyone of these crosses, realize the flag that is displayed in from of my house doesn’t come out on special occasions but is proudly flown every day to remind us of every single white cross. We were all born born free but only stay that way because of the men and women in uniform willing to fight and die to keep us that way.  Be Blessed! Jeff