{"id":1490,"date":"2010-12-23T13:35:40","date_gmt":"2010-12-23T18:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joeclarksblog.com\/?p=1490"},"modified":"2010-12-23T13:35:40","modified_gmt":"2010-12-23T18:35:40","slug":"the-eve-of-christmas-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joeclarksblog.com\/?p=1490","title":{"rendered":"The Eve of Christmas Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are beginning such a wonderful period. By now, most of us are in the process of forgetting our jobs, ignoring negative world events, focusing on family, and maybe thinking about the meaning of Christmas.<\/p>\n

I would hope we are not forgetting why we, as a nation, can celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other peaceful recognition of the holidays. In the United States, we live in peace as a result of the gift given us by those who stood in harm\u2019s way on our behalf.<\/p>\n

Tonight, on the eve of Christmas Eve, a new generation of American minutemen are standing watch to keep us safe. Some in our military have deployed to places most of us would never go. We are safe because they are there.<\/p>\n

Regardless of your politics, those women and men in uniform allow you to enjoy the life you currently live. Without them, the safety and security you now enjoy would be questionable.<\/p>\n

The veterans and current military members did and do what they do out of a sense of duty. This is now an all volunteer force; no one makes any one of them pick up a weapon, live in a foxhole, climb on board a helicopter, or strap into a jet. They do it out of a sense of honor and obligation.<\/p>\n

They recognize they were the ones chosen to keep the faith. They keep the faith for the life they want to live when they come home.\u00a0 They keep the faith for those they love at home, should they not come home.\u00a0 They recognize there is something much bigger than themselves which they have to preserve.<\/p>\n

I am a long time away from the time I was in their company. But as with all veterans, I find myself standing united with the new warriors.\u00a0 I will not forget their mission. Every now and then, the importance of what they do really strikes home.<\/p>\n[youtube=http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=iv&v=sUGOjNsE4aY&annotation_id=annotation_760614#t=1s]\n

As we go to bed safe and warm this eve of Christmas Eve, we sleep secure because of their work.<\/p>\n

Forest, be safe on your deployment.<\/p>\n

-30-<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2010 J. Clark<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are beginning such a wonderful period. By now, most of us are in the process of forgetting our jobs, ignoring negative world events, focusing on family, and maybe thinking about the meaning of Christmas. I would hope we are … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9],"tags":[206,207,373,870,1537,1774,2077,2100,2211,2321,2388,2391,2505,3122,3344,3653,3767,4158,4174,4181,4316,4320],"class_list":["post-1490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life-in-general","category-personal","tag-a-sense-of-duty","tag-a-sense-of-honor-and-obligation","tag-american-minutemen","tag-christmas","tag-focusing-on-family","tag-hanukkah","tag-keeping-the-faith","tag-kwanzaa","tag-living-in-peace","tag-marines","tag-military-members","tag-military-service","tag-navy","tag-safety-and-security","tag-standing-united","tag-the-eve-of-christmas-eve","tag-the-meaning-of-christmas","tag-veterans","tag-vietnam","tag-volunteer-force","tag-world-war-i","tag-world-war-ii"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t