Pat Dollard | Young Americans

My Kate and her b/f John are playing “Auld Lang Syne” on the living room piano. The “I Love Lucy” marathon on Nick TV is playing in the background. My Sara is on the night shift at the hospital ER, and will no doubt have the ’stories’ to tell about the folks who come through there tonight … while my son-in-law is at home with my two beautiful grandsweeties. Lizzie Rose is playing ‘dress-up’ with Katie’s clothes, shoes and purses in her downstairs apartment, and playing with Kate’s cat she dragged home for the Holiday stretch. Hubby just rolled in the door from work, fired up the gas grill for several steaks, and grabbed a cold beer from the Arctic porch. I have my wine …

But with the temps outside in single digits, and the comfy aroma of good food and wood burning in the fireplace throughout the house, folks will be sitting down to yummies soon enough here. I can’t help but think this is more than the end of another year, but the end of eight years that saw many difficulties … for a nation, for a military … for one man.

Often times we are slammed by the media to only focus on the negatives throughout the year.

But we must understand the positive far outweighs those negatives.

With all the economic troubles at hand we are reminded that bailing someone out of their troubles more likely than not is far worse then allowing them to fail, pick themselves up, learn from their failures, and rebuild. From chaos comes order … It IS how the Universe was formed.

Yes, the last several years of war have cost us dearly. “We” made mistakes, but also made corrections. Those of us committed to seeing the mission through had one big priority in mind for our perseverance … to NOT allow those who fought and died, or came home wounded, or gave up months and years of their personal lives … to have sacrificed in vain.

We were right … they (our beloved military) were up to the task. We won … and as we close out 2008 I refuse to NOT see this as the number one gift of not only 2008, but of the last eight years. War is not a commodity of the media, or a do-over for the fickle people. It is a course of history, a commitment, by which the future is based and built on. It is messy, ugly, horrific, and heart-sickening … but it is necessary, no matter who doesn’t want to tax their pretty little brains about it. Those who oppose it seem to reap the best and the most from it, without ever having invested anything in it. It was purchased for them on the backs and souls of others more worthy than they are for the right to draw breath.

So, as we ponder the past year and wonder about the next year let’s not forget those who willingly gave up their freedom to ‘come and go’ as they served their duty to the CiC and to the nation … in order that we could do as we damn well pleased for the last 12 months … the last eight years … the last 232 years. And let us not forget the fight is still on and strong in Afghanistan …

God bless those who have served. God keep those close who have joined Him at His side, and those who continue to kick up the dust down here in service to our country and to humanity.

I pray in 2009 that our brave men and women do achieve ‘peace’ in the world.

They have more than earned it …

If I had one wish … I’d wish you all home.

God bless them all.

God bless Pres. Bush and those who worked in his thankless Administration for the last 8 years.

And God bless the families of those who serve … and our loyal readers here at Dollard Nation.

And if you want a “Happy New Year” … pray your hearts and souls out for those who provide, preserve, and protect the freedom to be happy … and sad. For us, and for millions around the world.

For without them … it simply does not exist.

Maggie