By Taylor Sterling
As always, I paid my respects at many Veteran Day events, capturing the hearts and faces of those who served, who are serving and families remembering their loved ones. These moments make one so proud to be part of a nation whose hearts are bound by fighting for their families, their friends and of course for their country. The faces of all these proud Americans brought tears to my eyes and filled me with pride for all these incredible men and women who put their lives in harm’s way to protect all that our ancestors have worked so hard for so that we all can prosper and feel safe. AMERICA!
This day and each day are always being memories of my daddy. My Hero…. A highly decorated soldier whose folded flag and Purple Heart I touch each day and night. I miss him with every breath I take. He was so proud to have served his country and witnessed what no one person should have and yet was the kindest human I have ever known. After his duty was fulfilled, he became a Deputy Sheriff for that is what he lived for…to protect and serve. The following quotes are very apropos on this auspicious day. The photos are from a few of the events I covered including with Mayor Molly O’Donnell in Goshen with the amazing Nam Knights led by President, John “Cheech” Richichi and at Suresky’s in Chester serving lunch to hundreds of Veterans. I was privy to many stories of bravery and honor. It just makes me so proud to be an American. God Bless them all and please keep those at home and away from home safe.
Let me ask you, sir, when is the time for brave men to exert themselves in the cause of liberty and their country, if this is not?” — George Washington
May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.” — Peter Marshall
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one Nation, evermore!” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” “This country owes the greatest debt to our servicemen” and that “we should never forget the men who died to defend our freedom— John F. Kennedy
We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something — for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to. And we have good reason to be hopeful and optimistic.” — “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines don’t have that problem.” Ronald Reagan
“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” — Harry Truman
Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” And the soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” — General Douglas MacArthur
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton Jr.
