Recently in Patriotism Category

Continuing on from  . . .

Recognizing the dangers of a standing army - even a well regulated militia - the government can NOT force you to quarter soldiers in your home without your consent. Hopefully this will also apply to the new Civilian National Security Force (CNSF). (and, and . )

Citizens are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures by the Government - hopefully this too will apply to the CNSF.

Citizens have the right to NOT witness against yourself or be tried twice for the same crime and the government can't take your stuff without due process or compensation.

Citizens have the right to a speedy, PUBLIC trial by an impartial jury of your peers, the right to confront your accuser and the right to Defense Counsel in Federal Courts.

Citizens have the right to jury even in Civil trials if the amount in question is over $20.00 [how much would that be today]

Citizens are protected against excessive bail, excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishment. [of course the devil is in the detail and depends on what your definition of "is" - is or in the case what your definition of unusual is . . .]

Now for some of the best (often most over looked) bits

 "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people".  Simply instructs that power not listed in the Constitution (thereby claimed by the Government) were powers belonging to the people. Thus, this was an attempted limiting factor on the Federal Government.

Our founders often thought of their own States as distinct and Sovereign - from each other and from a centralized government. To that end, they proviced that "powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people" 

As originally intended, the "Bill of Rights" was to protect the governed from those doing the governing or protect US from the government.

The Bill of Rights simply enumerates some of our many "Blessings of Liberty"- blessing that we take for granted and blessings that disallowed in many corners of the world. The Blessings of Liberty are among the things that makes us (or US) UNIQUE in the whole history of mankind.

These are blessing worth protecting and fighting for. Blessing that must vigilantly be guarded from usurpation by the natural tendencies of government and secured from external assault   

"...

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence (sp), promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 

..."

As I blogged yesterday in  - Circle of Trust - blessing of faith, liberty is endowed to us by God. So, what are some of those blessings of Liberty as described in the Bill of Rights?

Well . .

First and foremost - you have the right to Worship God -  ever wonder why this is first? -  You have the right to speak and write freely-  in private or public- particularly about political matters - though you are not guaranteed an audience. You also have the right to assemble peacefully and even the right to petition the Government for grievances.

[There are many places in the world today where these 'taken for granted' blessings are NOT ALLOWED. Even today there are countries that prohibit even simple things like permission to marry, permission to travel, permission to freely associate, permission to work, permission to own property, in some places you are simply aborted because you are the wrong sex, or killed because you are the wrong religion.]

Secondly, you have the right to keep and bear arms, AND a right to security from foreign danger - as secured by a well 'regulated militia'.

Pt 2 - tomorrow . . . 

And as Madison write in The Federalist 41; "Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty, ought to have it ever before his eyes, that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America, and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it."

As it is still occasionally acknowledge; "Freedom isn't free"! Freedom and Liberty come at a steep price indeed - often, our freedom is bought by the sacrifices of those we hold dear - the men and women in uniform serving our beloved republic.

And whether you call this day: Remembrance Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day, the purpose is still the same it remains: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Veterans Day, 1954

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

3071

Whereas it has long been our customs to commemorate November 11, the anniversary of the ending of World War I, by paying tribute to the heroes of that tragic struggle and by rededicating ourselves to the cause of peace; and

Whereas in the intervening years the United States has been involved in two other great military conflicts, which have added millions of veterans living and dead to the honor rolls of this Nation; and

Whereas the Congress passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926 (44 Stat. 1982), calling for the observance of November 11 with appropriate ceremonies, and later provided in an act approved May 13, 1938 (52 Stat. 351), that the eleventh of November should be a legal holiday and should be known as Armistice Day; and

Whereas, in order to expand the significance of that commemoration and in order that a grateful Nation might pay appropriate homage to the veterans of all its wars who have contributed so much to the preservation of this Nation, the Congress, by an act approved June 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 168), changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day:

Now, Therefore, I, Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States of America, do hereby call upon all of our citizens to observe Thursday, November 11, 1954, as Veterans Day. On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.

I also direct the appropriate officials of the Government to arrange for the display of the flag of the United States on all public buildings on Veterans Day.

In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose.

Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington this eighth day of October in the Year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and seventy-ninth.

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Included is an excerpt from a letter my Uncle wrote to his brothers and sisters at home just after the battle of Mindanao had concluded circa August 1945. In the full text of the letter he is asking about a regimental memorial pamphlet he had sent previously - honoring his fallen comrades.

On this page he is mentioning  the boys and officers recently killed in action.

Also mentioned elsewhere in the letter, was my dad who was flying a SBD Dauntless from the USS Ranger at the time.