As we wend our way through the Holy Days and into a New Year, we ask, “What have we done with what they won for us?”

Who are “they?”

“They” are those named on endless walls and memorials.  “They” are those scarcely minded beneath white crosses, markers, stones … forgotten … abandoned … enfolded … sunken into naked soil. “They” are those who fell mid conflicts and confrontations spanning Nation and Earth.  “They” include all who fought with sincere and honest intent to protect their kin and kind from tyranny hoping for a brighter day under just laws and good governance.  “They,” most assuredly, must include first responders, service providers and our Nation’s builders who gave all without “quid pro quo” or the “ask.”

Stopped short by the story that follows, we take pause to contemplate its simple message that dallies with our feelings and emotions.  For this New Year, the Ole’ Buzzard will continue to encourage a new generation of leaders who will thoughtfully and purposefully set aside small-minded political games and take steps to secure a future for our land and people.  Even though fictional, the television clip that follows tugs on our heart strings and reminds us that we have a lot of work to do. We must endorse men and women who will do the right thing at the right time regardless the personal or political benefits or consequences.  

We must also be ever mindful of our history and heritage wherein solutions and salvations too often remain entombed within the institutional memories of our prior successes and failures.  Would that we could resurrect and repeat the successes and be reminded of the failures before time and time again repeating them.  (This posting was co-Authored by Daniel Newby.)

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