I know it’s not fly fishing except for the fact that had the outcome been different you would have been born to a very different country. This thread is not about picking sides but to honor all of the men that fell in those three days! On those fateful days over 51,000 men became casualties (killed in action, wounded in action and missing in action). It is the bloodiest battle in American history and the bloodiest battle in the Western Hemisphere.
Over the 4th of July holiday I will celebrate vigorously and I will remember all of the men and women that have given so much to forge this great nation. Without their sacrifice we would not be able to travel about our nation freely and fly fish where ever we want to. Of course President Lincoln said it much better than I could ever say it:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
[b]Thank you to our founding fathers and all who have the courage to stand up for the United States of America! Happy 4th of July to all of you!
And FWIW I am so proud to be among good people like yourself who maintain that same spirit of courage and selflessness!!! I hope our past differences of opinion don’t overshadow the respect I have for you and the servicemen and women past, present and future.
Marty,
I am very proud of you, my fellow American! No hard feelings here. I respect you for having the courage to exercise your rights and to stand up for our Constitution! I don’t hold grudges, seek revenge or harbor ill will towards anyone. I hope we can get together soon and wet a line or just chew the fat sometime soon.
Not to break into a private conversation here…
but I thought that some of you would appreciate this video. I had this emailed to me and I don’t usually forward a FW:FW:FW:FW to anyone. Bugs me.
Even though I usually have prett thick skin, this video about our the war we’re in now really made me stop and think. My first thought after viewing it was to post something here. I was going to start a new thread for it, but this one seems fitting. Not meant as a hijack, but further Eric’s thoughts and feelings to today.
Check it out, about 5 minutes long.
That was beautiful and really touched my heart! It took me a few moments to stop weeping long enough to say thank you for posting that wonderful video and song. Thank you!
No problem guys.
From looking at the other vids and things posted in that user’s photobucket account, it looks like he/she is probably serving our country right now.
I’m just passing it along…can’t really take credit for anything.
