Several days ago, I attended the annual Department of Georgia Marine Corps League Convention. I served as an enlisted Marine for a tour and received an Honorable Discharge. Later I served a year with the Tennessee Army National Guard and, again, received an Honorable Discharge. In 1993, I joined the Marine Corps League, a veteran’s organization open to Marine Corps veterans who have been honorably discharged and to U.S. Navy medical corpsmen who have served with The Fleet Marine Force.
At the convention, each event opened with, among other things, the MCL members standing at attention and saluting the American flag as they repeated the Pledge of Allegiance. For some reason, each and every time we came to the phrase, “and to the Republic for which it stands,” I would get choked up and my eyes would tear up. That had never happened before and now it was happening every time we recited the Pledge.
As the conference wore on I began to realize that I was uncertain that my Republic would be able to stand. Would we still have a country in the years ahead? Would it radically change to be something else that no one could now imagine?
Here I was in the presence of Marine Corps veterans who had served from World War II to the present day. There were even 15-18-year-old young men wearing the uniform of the Marine Corps Junior ROTC from Each Coweta High School as they presented the Colors. Would the nation be there for them?
The Veterans Administrations estimates that 7.3 percent of all living Americans have ever served in the armed forces of the United States. That means that 92.7 percent of Americans have not. Only 7.2 percent of Americans have any experience with offering their lives, if need be, so that this Republic may endure and survive.
All it take is one visit to a local high school football game to see the disrespect and dishonor that the average attendee offers when the National Anthem is played. Most teens go about their business as if nothing is happening. Even adults remain sitting, talking, laughing while a very few immediately stand to the feet, remove their ball caps, and offer a proper salute. Others, seeing the example set, reluctantly stand to their feet during the playing of America’s secular sacred hymn.
The nation is in a shambles politically. Some 13 percent of Americans believe that Congress is doing an acceptable job while a majority of Americans dislike or distrust the two likely candidates for President. Having felt betrayed by their leaders, the Democrat voters, were it not for so-called “super-delegates,” might well select a Socialist as their nominee! Having rejected 16 politically experienced contenders for the office, Republican voters would rather have a businessman with no political experience as their nominee.
The nation is in a mess. Most people don’t vote. Of those who do, a large percentage have not a clue about the issues or the challenges this nation faces. The military, the only force that stands between the country and the forces that would destroy it, are at the lowest level of strength since before Pearl Harbor. Currently, only 0.4 percent of Americans are on active duty. Less than one-half of 1 percent! It is no wonder that I, and many others, wonder if the nation has a future as a free people.
We are about to honor the nation’s war dead. We are not about to celebrate fishing, swimming, back-yard barbecuing, or the right to lounge in front of the television. We observe the day because 1,313,118 American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, and coast guardsmen have been killed so that this Republic might have a chance to stand.
Frankly, I do not know if this nation will endure. That’s why the catch in my throat and the moisture in my eye at the MCL Convention. A mere 0.4 percent of the population is the only insurance that we have that we will not be overrun by forces that wish to end our existence on this planet. They are willing to die to protect this country. Some will die this year.
The other 99.6 percent need to recognize their debt and support our active military. The 92.7 percent of Americans who have never served, along with the veterans, need to offer homage to those who have given their last full measure of devotion. It’s the least they can do. The very least.
[David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
