Veterans Memorial Wall
Jack K. Clark Speech
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When I close my eyes, I see an America of neighborhoods of children playing in the yard. I see schools and parks and churches. I see a proud country, rich in its heritage, and strong in its diversity.
My vision of America would not be possible without another vision. The vision of freedom possessed by our founding fathers. This vision has been realized by the men and women who have served this nation in uniform for more than 230 years. Men and women who have given their all to make my vision of America possible.
Today we honor those who have served the cause of freedom around the world. We honor those who realize the cause of freedom has no borders.
The freedom our
military has provided has played an important role in my own family’s
American adventure.
My eighth Grandfather, Micajah Revelle came to America in the seventeen hundreds. Now, Micajah did not immigrate in the way you and I think of immigration. Micajah came to America in the bottom of a slave ship. Micajah’s children, Elijah, James, and John fought as Continental Line Soldiers in the revolutionary war. They fought not only for their own freedom, but ironically for the freedom of the very country that had enslaved them.
Eight decades later, Micajah’s Great-Grandson, my fifth Grandfather, again fought for freedom in the Civil War. My mothers family immigrated from Germany in the 1850s, and within a decade saw themselves fighting for the freedom of people they hardly knew.
My Grandfather William served as a Marine in WWI. My father fought in WWII to free the world from tyranny.
The story of my family is not unique in America. The men and women who have served this nation in uniform are bound by the belief that all men should be free. They are bound by our founding fathers belief that all men are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
From the beginning of our great country, our patriots have fought to ensure liberty around the world. The fight for freedom has been the hallmark of this nation for over two hundred and thirty years. It is who we are and it is what we are. We should make it clear to the world of our determination. We should tell the world we will not end our fight for freedom until every man, woman, and child on earth is free to determine their own destiny.
We owe that fight to our veterans who have given their lives so we may stand here today. America does not determine the value of freedom based upon geographic location. The men and women who serve this great country do not suspend the battle for freedom when it is unpopular to continue.
I will tell you of American troops who are underpaid, under-equipped, supported by less than half of Americans and constantly under attack by forces dedicated to the destruction of this great country. I am of course speaking of the revolutionary war. The easy thing to do would have been to surrender. Fortunately for us the leaders of the day had a vision of freedom. Nothing could stop that dream.
The heroes who serve the cause of freedom today follow the great traditions of their forefathers. In recorded history, patriots have raised their swords for the cause of freedom.
It is the responsibility of those who serve, to protect that cause of freedom, and they do so without complaint. Our responsibility is to ensure the young men and women we place in harms way have every tool at their disposal to win the battle for freedom. When you hear the words "I support the troops but will not fund them" it is a contradiction of massive proportions.
There are those who now question their own decision to send our young patriots to battle. But our heroes who serve do not question their orders. They do not question whether the fight for freedom is worth the political consequences. They know only that the world is depending on them. Our children are depending on them.
Men and women who serve this country take an oath that they will defend this land against ALL enemies, both foreign and domestic, and will bear "true faith" and allegiance to the same.
Our veterans have proven they take this oath personally. Every American should take this oath and reaffirm it on a regular basis.
Our founding fathers pledged their lives and fortunes to the cause of freedom. Our veterans have held that charge sacred for more than two centuries.
The history for this nation can be summed up very briefly. From our declaration of independence and our constitution to the inscription of the statue of liberty; from our monuments that offer tribute to those who serve; to this small celebration today. Freedom. It is what America is. It is what we fight for. Freedom is not a right of all Americans. It is the god given right of people everywhere. I thank God for the men and women; my heroes; who have served the cause of freedom. I thank God for the heroes who serve today, and those who will serve tomorrow.
I thank God for giving us men and women so brave, so dedicated, and so devoted to freedom that I can stand here today and speak my mind.
It is for us; to keep the charge of our founding fathers alive, and to preserve the memory of those who serve. We must not falter. We must not waiver in our resolve. Our heroes are watching us.
Thank you for listening today.