Jackson Free Press

I read recently that patriotism is learned behavior. If that is true then I learned from my dad that America is beautiful. He joined the Navy at the end of World War II and served as Yeoman 3rd Class on the aircraft carrier USS Rendova.

He had an anchor tattoo on the inside of his right forearm as a reminder of his Navy years. I badgered him until he told me the story of a night on the town with buddies and liquid courage as a requirement for all them to make the decision to get tattooed. He was proud of his service and his country.

We lived along Highway 51 that crosses western Kansas. On a snowy Thanksgiving, a young serviceman was trying to hitchhike home. My dad walked out to the road and invited him to have dinner with us. He was traveling from his base in New Mexico to his hometown. Daddy and the sheriff, who lived next door, took him to the truck stop after dinner and found a truck driver going his way to get him home. One soldier takes care of another.

When the war with Iraq started, I was glued to the coverage and touched by the how young the soldiers were. Just like my dad. They are always young. They were prepared. Some were going to die. I was not for the war, but I am all for the soldiers.

Soldiers take care of soldiers. Recovering the POWs and the dead is part of the promise that no one will be left behind. All the news coverage of Iraq put me right there. I have abundant respect for our armed forces. I proudly wave the red, white and blue.

I think of all the families making sacrifices, while their spouses, sons, daughters or grandparents serve overseas. There is a different story for every person, and that makes me appreciate what is being done to protect my world.

I learned my patriotism from my dad. God bless America.
Debbie Phillips, 51, grew up in Kansas and has lived in Jackson for 30 years.

Previous Comments

ID

77065

Comment

I also grew up with a WW II Army service man, my father, he taught me so much. His love of this country was always shown at tax time...He always said that he was blessed because he had to pay taxes, it ment that he had a job and that he lived in a country he loved, where he could do his share in keeping our country free, if not by being in the military again, but by paying his fair share of taxes to keep this country free. Respect, Honor, and Courage were part of our home life. We owe so much to so many for keeping our life style free. Thank you for reminding me of how wonderful my dad was and how wonderful all the service men and their family's are. God bless every single one of them, may they all come home safe. Respectfully, B J Rodenbeck

Author

Barbara J Rodenbeck

Date

2003-06-30T12:15:47-06:00