Greetings loyal airmen.  Well here we go into Memorial Day weekend, with Americans across our great land all ready to celebrate and kick off the official start of the summer season.   And hopefully, somewhere in all that partying, we take a few minutes to remember the brave men and women who gave up their lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms that we hold so dear.

What with the warm weather finally here, I found myself out mowing my yard for the first time this past week  This has always been a Zen like chore for me, as I really enjoy being outside (allergies not withstanding) and pushing that little machine back and forth across the grass in a set pattern.  All too often my mind begins to wander and I get reflective.  What with Memorial Day coming, my thoughts centered around our current world situation and the war in Iraq.  A war foisted upon us by Islmatic fanatics who desire nothing less than our complete subjugation.  I am constantly befuddled when I hear Americans denouncing the war and demanding our withdrawal.  Have I missed something?  I mean, we did not ask for this conflict.  We have no grudges against these people.  But they certainly do against us.  They desire nothing less than the complete and utter destruction of our society and way of life.  They don't even try to hide these goals, but preach them whenever they are given a platform to do so.  They oppose freedom of speech and religion.  Islamic terrorists have only one goal and that is a world ruled by fundamental Islamic law.  Women would become no more that slaves, and all of us would have to bow down to the Ayatollahs as semi-gods.  Certainly not a world I want to live in.

And yet, again, there are those among us who think by simply getting out of Iraq, these madmen will be placated and leave us alone.  Duh?  Sheer naivete.   Let me assure you, if we pull out of Iraq without the people there able to self-govern themselves, then the fighting will continue…here on America's streets.  And the people being bombed and butchered will be our women and children.  Yet people like TV personality, John Stewart rants about how sick he is being accused of giving aid and support to the enemy when he criticizes the war.  I'm sorry he's so sensitive, but again, Islamic terrorist don't see our peace-marchers and protests as signs of America's strength.  Remember, they have no concept of a true democracy.  They see our protests as a lack of will on our part.  They are resolved to destroying us.  That our own people rail against our President and actively campaign against his policies of defending our shores certainly bolsters their cause and determination.  So, yes, John Stewart, protesting the war publicly does indeed give comfort to those madmen.  It lets them think they can win.

I'm also sick to death of TV anchors who night after night continue the falsehood that all Americans oppose the President and this war.  Another lie.  There are hundreds, nay, thousands of us, who do not want to see these battles fought on US soil and we continue to pray and support both our beleagured President and our armed forces.   I just have a hard time understanding people who just don't get it.  To which my wife, in her wisdom, one day answered my quandry with, “They've never worn the uniform, nor taken the oath.”  And she was right.  Every young man and woman who joins the armed forces, raises his right hand and swears an oath of fidelity to America and her constiution.  They make a sacred promise to fight, and if need be, die for what America stands for.  And I don't know one single soldier, marine, sailor or airmen who has ever taken that oath lightly.

This weekend we honor the memory of men and woman who honored that oath to the end.  They were more than just citizens, they were patriots.  John Steward may be a citizen of the USA, and I respect him for that status, but he will never be a patriot nor have a clue what it is to be one.   My father served in World War II, I was in Vietnam and my son spent six years with the Army Reserve.   We know what that word means, and when we sing the national anthem, “..home of the brave and the land of the free.” will always tug at our hearts.
God bless America.

Ron – over and out.