It's Memorial Day.
A day when we remember those loved ones who have passed on from this life. It's also a time when we take stock in what we have as a nation and why we have it. We take time to remember the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces, and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and way of life.
The priorities I mentioned in the title are those taught me by my father, John J. Gray. He died last November and we buried him just a few days ago. We went to the cemetery on a cold, damp Friday afternoon and stood in the steady drizzle, next to my grandparents' grave and that of my uncle, who was the second oldest boy in a family of eight. My father was the first born, in 1926.
He survived the Great Depression, the Battle of the Bulge and saw the liberation of Dachau Prison Camp.
He was tough, a bit rough around the edges, but he had a big heart and big laugh.
He wasn't an openly philosophical man, and he never detailed his priorities for us. He just lived them.
Here's what those priorities mean to me:
Whether you're religious or not, whether you believe in God or not, you're first priority should be God. God means always doing the right thing morally. Before you take any action you must think if it's the right thing to do. Does it hurt anyone else? Does it deprive them of their life, or liberty or pursuit of happiness.
Take a look at the 10 Commandments. Even if you don't believe, you have eight or nine pretty good rules for living a quality life.
So, morally speaking, your first priority must be God-like.
Next comes your country. Does that mean your country is always right? Not necessarily so, but you must give it the second highest priority because of what it stands for, what it means to other Americans and even people in other countries of the world. It is an ideal. A rather successful experiment that was undertaken more than two centuries ago to allow men and women to live in freedom. You might find it odd that country would take precedence over family, but just think of the case of Uni-bomber. His own brother turned him in to the authorities because it was the right thing to do for our country and our society. I can't imagine how difficult that call was to make for the brother.
Next, your must protect your family before yourself. Almost any parent will tell you that. They would willingly sacrifice their lives so that their children could live.
Lastly, your fourth priority is yourself.
Unfortunately, there are far too many people today who make themselves their first priority. Are you one of those? I hope not.
So, as we mark this important holiday this week, ask yourself: What are my priorities and what is their order of succession?
I know what mine are thanks to my Dad.
R.I.P.
John James Gray
838th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion, Battery C
That is a great tribute to your Dad, Joseph. Many readers may not realize that the Battle of the Bulge was a major turning point in World War II. The German Army thought they had found a soft spot on the Western Front and launched a major counterattack against the Allies. The attack was repelled by the outnumbered 1st Infantry Division at a great cost in lives on both sides. The 1st Infantry, also known as "The Bloody One", is still revered for it's heroic stand.
ReplyDeleteIt is only fitting that we honor the Americans who have served our country in times of war and peace. While we enjoy the holiday we need to remember who made it possible. I'd like to publicly express my gratitude to the Americans who answered the call when there were threats to our way of life. May they never be forgotten.