Honor Never Grows Old

In a lecture to the United States Naval Academy on November 24, 1997, William J. Bennett said, "Honor never grows old, and honor rejoices the heart of age. It does so because honor is, finally, about defending those noble and worthy things that deserve defending, even if it comes at a high cost. In our time, that may mean social disapproval, public scorn, hardship, persecution, or as always, even death itself. The question remains: What is worth defending? What is worth dying for? What is worth living for?"

Today we celebrate a holiday that began as what was called Armistice Day. Armistice Day was a day of remembrance in honor of the armistice treaty which ended WWI. Armistice Day was incorporated as a holiday in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson. Other countries today still recognize November 11 as Armistice Day.

It was in 1938 that Armistice Day was enacted as an official American holiday. But eventually after WWII, citizens felt that veterans of all wars should be recognized...not just those of WWI. So in 1954 Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

Toward the end of WWII, and at the ripe old age of 17, my Dad enlisted in the U.S. Navy. I grew up hearing his stories. I heard how he was exposed to radiation when he witnessed nuclear blasts out near Bikini Island in the Pacific Ocean. I heard about how the ship he was on was nearly swallowed up in the ocean during terrible storms. I heard how he stood up for what he believed in and served his country with honor and pride.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "What goes on around you...compares little with what goes on inside you." To those men and women who have this kind of honor, we owe a debt of gratitude. It is to those who say "Let's roll", when the stakes are high, and those who are there to defend and protect us when the wolf pounds at the door, that I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I hope we will all take a moment and remember and give thanks to those who have served and who are currently serving our country. Happy Veterans Day!

Good Mail?

To my dear friends at the RNC. I mean seriously guys, is this what you call "Good Mail"? Once a month maybe, but every. single. day? I know you appreciated the measly donation my dear husband made to your cause when I wasn't looking, but perhaps you've got us mixed up with his rich uncle or something. Your response has been....well should I say....overwhelming! I mean...those 48 Ronald Reagan calendars will come in really handy this Christmas. We will wrap them up and ding-dong-ditch, I mean...give them to all our neighbors and friends this year. It's also nice to know the Bush's think of us as family now. That's a real nice photo of the two of them you sent to us. Perhaps next time they are in town, we can get together.

I don't want to sound ungrateful, it's just that....well....my shredder is wearing out, and I'd really appreciate if you'd save the money and stop with the "good mail". PULEASE! Oh, and about the one that says "Past Due"...I'm willing to forgive and forget. You'd never send something like that to family now would you? With the economy being in the toilet and all...it would really look bad if we got sent to collections.

Thank you for your help in this matter.