So many Memorial Days have come and gone. Each year the list of those Memorialized grows longer.
The sea of tears shed for the lost grows deeper...
Enjoy the day. Celebrate in the Glorious Freedom Men and Women of Courage have given you.
But always, as you go through the day and your life... keep conscious of the price that was paid to provide you with that Freedom you glory in... and who paid it.
~ Brian
A broken down Ol' Cowboy goin' RV Boondocking ...
...and Yondering, to the beat of a different Biker Cowboy Drummer
Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memorial Day. Show all posts
Monday, May 27, 2013
Saturday, May 26, 2012
I'm a Baaaaad Cowboy.... Sometimes
On this Memorial Day Holiday of 2012, and in remembrance of the fallen, who have given us so much, I find it appropriate to offer a general apology. Though, I apologize for any discomfort the transgressions of which I will speak have caused; I must honestly say, I can not be ashamed for them. Yet I do remain, often, a bad Cowboy.
Though it was from a training accident, I am a disabled Vet. I don't say that for sympathy. I don't want it, and won't accept it. I say it only as background, hoping it might offer help in understanding.
I've read where; "There are moments in your life that define you, that speak of who you are."
Those moments, in my life, have made me Intensely Passionate about Freedom and Liberty. I have seen the human race at its absolute, most depraved, worst... and paradoxically, at that same moment, its absolute and glorious finest.
In my "sermons" I have generally been careful to say, clearly, that each and every person must make their own choices in this life. That whatever those choices are, they are theirs to make... without judgement or criticism. Defense of that Right is what I served for.
At the same time, it is my desire to be a catalyst... an agent that prods and provokes people to stretch and reach beyond their "comfort zone" and strive for the true glory that is Freedom. It is my belief that the citizens of this society are conditioned, trained and propagandized by the system to be fearful of risk. To recoil from and reject risk at almost any cost. It is through this conditioning and the promise of future security in exchange for ever more of your liberty that the system grows its power and control; which is the one and only goal of any government.
It is a facet of my personal philosophy, for My Self that; An intense and all consuming focus on current and future security that seems to occupy and enmesh the majority of people's thoughts and efforts, is a cancer that consumes my todays if I allow it.
To sacrifice Necessary Liberty in the name of a fleeting and ephemeral Security is something I simply can not do. It is a personality trait that I know, many see as a flaw... but... it is my flaw.
It is also my opinion that the greatest part of any "security" is mostly fleeting and imaginary, and largely based on small pieces of paper that can be devalued without warning. Or consumed by the cancer of inflation over which there is no defense; and which is largely controlled by those selling the imaginary security in the first place. "Out of chaos comes control."
But... This is only My Opinion, which I live by and with... within the fevered confines of my own brain.
In my desire to promote the joy that is Freedom and Liberty I on occasion, have found that I can become excessively assertive and aggressive in pursuit of that dream. The dream of dying knowing that something I did in my life led some few others to Freedom.
The Love I have for Liberty; Born of a sure and certain knowledge of the inherent costs and risks that make it so Precious; can sometimes blind a man to the reality that others might not Value it to the same degree, as is their Right.
It is also my belief that most have never known true Freedom, concealed under their blankets of Imagined security. It is my belief, Spoken freely. If you disagree, that is your Right. The Right that I and others served to Protect and Defend.
I have been advised and I believe it is true that I am endowed with a higher tolerance for risk than that carried by many if not most others. I do not fear failure or death. I have failed many times. I expect to know a few more.
What I fear is Life without Freedom.
I believe it is right to be so. However; It is not right to attempt to impose my belief on anyone or bully them into adherence to it; no matter how correct I might believe myself to be.
The definition of Liberty and Freedom dictates that anyone, striving to support and promote it must respect the values and choices of all others, within their own lives, as they demand such respect for their own. On occasion, my passion for Freedom has led me to say things in ways which I understand can be misread as denigrating those opinions of others. That has never and will never be my wish or intention. It is simply the consequence of an Overzealous lust for Freedom. For this I apologize.
I have put my life on the line in defense of the Freedom of which I speak. I would never, knowingly, betray that Treasure. My Freedom means more to me than Life.
So... If my words in Defense of Liberty have ever Offended or seemed excessively Aggressive; I apologize. I hope that you will understand that while I can not guarantee they will not be repeated, and though my Passions may lead me to speak too loudly at times... I hope only that you will understand my true motive, and tolerate my occasional overzealous expression.
This old soldier apologizes for any discomfort his passions may produce and asks for your forgiveness for the vice with which he is afflicted; His Passionate, all consuming, and sometimes overbearing, Love of Freedom.
Brian
Though it was from a training accident, I am a disabled Vet. I don't say that for sympathy. I don't want it, and won't accept it. I say it only as background, hoping it might offer help in understanding.
I've read where; "There are moments in your life that define you, that speak of who you are."
Those moments, in my life, have made me Intensely Passionate about Freedom and Liberty. I have seen the human race at its absolute, most depraved, worst... and paradoxically, at that same moment, its absolute and glorious finest.
In my "sermons" I have generally been careful to say, clearly, that each and every person must make their own choices in this life. That whatever those choices are, they are theirs to make... without judgement or criticism. Defense of that Right is what I served for.
At the same time, it is my desire to be a catalyst... an agent that prods and provokes people to stretch and reach beyond their "comfort zone" and strive for the true glory that is Freedom. It is my belief that the citizens of this society are conditioned, trained and propagandized by the system to be fearful of risk. To recoil from and reject risk at almost any cost. It is through this conditioning and the promise of future security in exchange for ever more of your liberty that the system grows its power and control; which is the one and only goal of any government.
It is a facet of my personal philosophy, for My Self that; An intense and all consuming focus on current and future security that seems to occupy and enmesh the majority of people's thoughts and efforts, is a cancer that consumes my todays if I allow it.
To sacrifice Necessary Liberty in the name of a fleeting and ephemeral Security is something I simply can not do. It is a personality trait that I know, many see as a flaw... but... it is my flaw.
It is also my opinion that the greatest part of any "security" is mostly fleeting and imaginary, and largely based on small pieces of paper that can be devalued without warning. Or consumed by the cancer of inflation over which there is no defense; and which is largely controlled by those selling the imaginary security in the first place. "Out of chaos comes control."
But... This is only My Opinion, which I live by and with... within the fevered confines of my own brain.
In my desire to promote the joy that is Freedom and Liberty I on occasion, have found that I can become excessively assertive and aggressive in pursuit of that dream. The dream of dying knowing that something I did in my life led some few others to Freedom.
The Love I have for Liberty; Born of a sure and certain knowledge of the inherent costs and risks that make it so Precious; can sometimes blind a man to the reality that others might not Value it to the same degree, as is their Right.
It is also my belief that most have never known true Freedom, concealed under their blankets of Imagined security. It is my belief, Spoken freely. If you disagree, that is your Right. The Right that I and others served to Protect and Defend.
I have been advised and I believe it is true that I am endowed with a higher tolerance for risk than that carried by many if not most others. I do not fear failure or death. I have failed many times. I expect to know a few more.
What I fear is Life without Freedom.
I believe it is right to be so. However; It is not right to attempt to impose my belief on anyone or bully them into adherence to it; no matter how correct I might believe myself to be.
The definition of Liberty and Freedom dictates that anyone, striving to support and promote it must respect the values and choices of all others, within their own lives, as they demand such respect for their own. On occasion, my passion for Freedom has led me to say things in ways which I understand can be misread as denigrating those opinions of others. That has never and will never be my wish or intention. It is simply the consequence of an Overzealous lust for Freedom. For this I apologize.
I have put my life on the line in defense of the Freedom of which I speak. I would never, knowingly, betray that Treasure. My Freedom means more to me than Life.
So... If my words in Defense of Liberty have ever Offended or seemed excessively Aggressive; I apologize. I hope that you will understand that while I can not guarantee they will not be repeated, and though my Passions may lead me to speak too loudly at times... I hope only that you will understand my true motive, and tolerate my occasional overzealous expression.
This old soldier apologizes for any discomfort his passions may produce and asks for your forgiveness for the vice with which he is afflicted; His Passionate, all consuming, and sometimes overbearing, Love of Freedom.
Brian
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day 2011... They Stand on the Wall... For US
It was snowing when we went to bed Sunday night. It had snowed and rained almost all day... and though the ground was soggy wet, it was green... at least where the ATV'ers hadn't torn it apart...
Just before supper, those folks started pullin' out in the rain... and though I may be bad... I giggled at the half hour procession, as they retreated to town... What can I say...
There's an old 'western' term... "He's got sand."... Means, a person has what it takes... and those folks... got no sand... and no sense... I won't miss 'em...
They left behind a sad mess...
But... Life goes on, and for each storm, there is a sunrise...
We woke to 6 or 8 inches of white... For a Special Day... a rather exceptional first sight, don't you think?
Sat watching the sun come up, drinking my coffee in the comfort of my rig... thinking...
I took a broom and climbed up the ladder to the roof... to clear the snow off the solar panels...
The air is crisp and clean... the silence of the mountains returned now that our camp has had it's solitude returned...
My thoughts turned to my friend Eric... in Afghanistan... and Evin, on her way to Spain... soldiers both. They've got Sand.
I think of those who Stand on the Wall this Memorial Day... Who stand on that wall guarding... US... You and I... I think of those who have "Written a blank Check"... payable to the people of United States of America... for any amount, up to and including their lives...
I think of all those Checks over the past many years, that the people of this Nation have cashed... and I wonder... Does anyone think of them? Is the Cost of those "Checks" understood? Does anyone, appreciate what they, living and dead, have sacrificed? So that we can BBQ and party... in the Peace we enjoy... as the Direct Consequence... of the suffering and sacrifice of those... who Stand on the Wall... for... Us?
As always... on this day... My Heart is Heavy. There are so many... and I miss them so much...
Please... on this day... Enjoy your Families... Enjoy your Freedom... But... Understand... Just what a Precious Cost it bears. Just what they endured to give us the gift in which we live.
High in the Mountains... and Far in the Past
Brian
 |
| *no cajones... ATV'ers headin' for town... Bye!* |
There's an old 'western' term... "He's got sand."... Means, a person has what it takes... and those folks... got no sand... and no sense... I won't miss 'em...
They left behind a sad mess...
But... Life goes on, and for each storm, there is a sunrise...
 |
| *Sunrise... Memorial Day 2011* |
 |
| *The Memorial Day 2011 View from my window* |
I took a broom and climbed up the ladder to the roof... to clear the snow off the solar panels...
 |
| *Memorial Day Camp 2011* |
The air is crisp and clean... the silence of the mountains returned now that our camp has had it's solitude returned...
My thoughts turned to my friend Eric... in Afghanistan... and Evin, on her way to Spain... soldiers both. They've got Sand.
I think of those who Stand on the Wall this Memorial Day... Who stand on that wall guarding... US... You and I... I think of those who have "Written a blank Check"... payable to the people of United States of America... for any amount, up to and including their lives...
I think of all those Checks over the past many years, that the people of this Nation have cashed... and I wonder... Does anyone think of them? Is the Cost of those "Checks" understood? Does anyone, appreciate what they, living and dead, have sacrificed? So that we can BBQ and party... in the Peace we enjoy... as the Direct Consequence... of the suffering and sacrifice of those... who Stand on the Wall... for... Us?
As always... on this day... My Heart is Heavy. There are so many... and I miss them so much...
Please... on this day... Enjoy your Families... Enjoy your Freedom... But... Understand... Just what a Precious Cost it bears. Just what they endured to give us the gift in which we live.
High in the Mountains... and Far in the Past
Brian
Friday, October 22, 2010
Down the Columbia River Gorge
 |
| *Breakfast fire along the Grande Ronde River before we pulled out* |
I mean I grew up down on the desert where a Saguaro Cactus was the tallest thing around... and they're scattered far and wide... but not much shelter... and I think that's what it may be... the idea just never come clear to me before...
Out on the plains... a body can be seen for miles... It's like... a soldier... out in that open country, feels kind of exposed... and then he takes fire, and what does he do?... he runs for his life... straining to reach the safety of that Tree Line!
Maybe that revelation come to me 'cause of the way we came down the Gorge of the Mighty Columbia River... Off to the east it's dry and open...
 |
| *wind mills and ranches in the dry country along the Columbia* |
 |
| *all that water and it's still DRY along the Columbia* |
 |
| *Stonehenge War Memorial* |
 |
| *Dedication on the Altar Stone* |
 |
| *Memorial to WW II, Korea and Vietnam Veterans* |
 |
| *Motorcycle along the Columbia* |
... and you see some guys that make you say; "Not a Freakin' Chance!"
 |
| *Wind Surfers on the Columbia River... in OCTOBER!" |
 |
| *Columbia River Sunset* |
 |
| *Sunrise Spider web* |
 |
| *Lily* |
 |
| *Stormy Morning along the Columbia* |
 |
| *Night Camp in Home Valley, along the Mighty Columbia* |
One thing I know... and I rediscover every time I come back here... I freakin' love Washington and Oregon from the Mountains to the Sea!
Hoping to see the Pacific this afternoon... not sure we'll get there... but soon enough... we'll hit the spot where Lewis and Clarke did...
Seeing and learning... and starting to figure it out... Maybe... :o)
Along the Mighty Columbia
Brian
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Saturday, May 29, 2010
Memorial Day... 2010
Another Year gone by. A tough and difficult year.
Heidi and I lost a small fortune... a big fortune for us... getting out from under that house... My Step Father, an Old Soldier, passed just a few days before Memorial Day last year... We endured our own, personal, separation last summer... It's been a three steps forward, two steps back sort of time...
Many Days, I think... "Damn! Why does it need to be this hard?"... Like many folks... I get down... I get tired... I get weary... and I want to quit... but I can't. To do so, would be to Dishonor those men... Who endured so much more... and whose sacrifices were so much more painful... and...
...Were those men... Who NEVER, EVER... Quit. They kept going...
When the fear choked them... They Kept Going... When the grief and horror brutalized their souls... They Kept Going... When they knew... it would be their last day... They Kept Going.
They... Kept... Going...
How can I... How can We... Do any less?
I wrote this some time ago... A friend I showed it to told me I should share it... Maybe this is the time... Maybe it will give some sense of how a lot of Old Soldiers see the world around them... and the true price of our Freedom.
The Beast Arrives Today
They crouch alone in a muddy hole
Surrounded by a shattered and smoking earth
Waiting on a Brutal Beast
They hold their rifles in iron grips
Silently Peering into the dark
The word is out...
The Beast arrives today
These warriors scared, fear death as any man
They'd choose, if they could
To put it off to another day
But, the oath they took
and the Honor that drives their Souls
Holds them still and silent
They ache to go, to leave this place
But, running just ain't their way
The breaking dawn reveals a fearful beast
Scared men of iron rise from their holes
With Fear in their chests and Rage in their eyes
Courage carries them forward
To scream their final battle cry...
The Battle rages fierce
Warriors fight and fall
Their Hearts lay shattered on the smoking field
Their bodies torn and broken
The Beast consumes their souls
Many years come and go
The old soldiers' eyes snap open in the dark
His chest pounding, the echoes of screams, the stench of fear
But he lays in a silent room... his wife breathing by his side
It's only the Beast... as another dawn arrives
He survived that final battle so many years ago
A choked back sob is the only sound
In his Soul The war rages on
He crouches in a hole waiting on a brutal beast
... and fears each coming dawn
Take Good Care
Brian
Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road
Share your experiences, Boondocking on Freedom Road with us!
... Your RV Destinations
... Your Custom RV
... Reader's RVing Tips
... Reader's RV Recreation Activities
Heidi and I lost a small fortune... a big fortune for us... getting out from under that house... My Step Father, an Old Soldier, passed just a few days before Memorial Day last year... We endured our own, personal, separation last summer... It's been a three steps forward, two steps back sort of time...
Many Days, I think... "Damn! Why does it need to be this hard?"... Like many folks... I get down... I get tired... I get weary... and I want to quit... but I can't. To do so, would be to Dishonor those men... Who endured so much more... and whose sacrifices were so much more painful... and...
...Were those men... Who NEVER, EVER... Quit. They kept going...
When the fear choked them... They Kept Going... When the grief and horror brutalized their souls... They Kept Going... When they knew... it would be their last day... They Kept Going.
They... Kept... Going...
How can I... How can We... Do any less?
I wrote this some time ago... A friend I showed it to told me I should share it... Maybe this is the time... Maybe it will give some sense of how a lot of Old Soldiers see the world around them... and the true price of our Freedom.
The Beast Arrives Today
They crouch alone in a muddy hole
Surrounded by a shattered and smoking earth
Waiting on a Brutal Beast
They hold their rifles in iron grips
Silently Peering into the dark
The word is out...
The Beast arrives today
These warriors scared, fear death as any man
They'd choose, if they could
To put it off to another day
But, the oath they took
and the Honor that drives their Souls
Holds them still and silent
They ache to go, to leave this place
But, running just ain't their way
The breaking dawn reveals a fearful beast
Scared men of iron rise from their holes
With Fear in their chests and Rage in their eyes
Courage carries them forward
To scream their final battle cry...
The Battle rages fierce
Warriors fight and fall
Their Hearts lay shattered on the smoking field
Their bodies torn and broken
The Beast consumes their souls
Many years come and go
The old soldiers' eyes snap open in the dark
His chest pounding, the echoes of screams, the stench of fear
But he lays in a silent room... his wife breathing by his side
It's only the Beast... as another dawn arrives
He survived that final battle so many years ago
A choked back sob is the only sound
In his Soul The war rages on
He crouches in a hole waiting on a brutal beast
... and fears each coming dawn
Take Good Care
Brian
Return to the Home page of goin' RV Boondocking
Visit my "Ribbon of Highway" Blog on the Lil' sister to this site, Motorcycle Touring on Freedom Road
Share your experiences, Boondocking on Freedom Road with us!
... Your RV Destinations
... Your Custom RV
... Reader's RVing Tips
... Reader's RV Recreation Activities
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