The Bull Speaks!

Welcome, my fellow Americans, to another Memorial Day Weekend.

Our extended family has plans to get together on Monday for eating and swimming. The ‘usual’. Of all the people that will attend – if my memory serves – there will be two Veterans. Myself, and my father-in-law, Tim Brazell. Tim is a US Navy Veteran also, (USS Lexington (CVT-16), as I recall.). Despite that relatively low number of Veterans in attendance, the family continues their patriotic tradition of honoring all of those that offered their service to our great Nation. ‘Tis a fine thing, this family tradition. I hope your family has something similar.

When this time of year rolls around The Bull’s thoughts are turned towards other Service members and Veterans that have been a part of my life. Some I’ve known well, some I only met once or twice. Yet each has left me changed by the strength of their personalities. Let me take a moment to name off a few…

• My father, Roy C. Jones, USN, Veteran of WWII – USS Wasp (CV-7), and USS Lansdowne (DD-486).
• My step-father, James A. Middleton, USN (Retired), Cold War Veteran – USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628), and USS Thomas A. Edison (For a first hand story, see this page.).
• My brother, Dan R. Jones, USA, Cold War Veteran, Germany.
• Admiral Hyman Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy. I met him in 1981 at Dam Neck, VA. A strange little fellow, indeed, but what a mind! I swear, the guy even dreamed about new ways of securing this Nation in his sleep. He accomplished those dreams.
• President Ronald Reagan, USA, 2nd lieutenant Officers’ Reserve Corps of the Cavalry, Troop B, 322nd Cavalry. I had the great honor of saluting, and then having the President offer me his hand, in Washington, D.C. in February 1981. To date in this writer’s life, the finest President yet. His eyes were so piercing as to cut right through to your soul.

I could go on for hours, but those are the recent ‘big ones’. Just in my own family tree I can list perhaps a hundred who have served from the Civil War forward. One was Col. William Bennett Jones, CSA, Co. B, 1st SC Troops.
Oh! The history!

Now we find ourselves in a new war. Not a war as we have seen before. No where as tragic as the epic proportions of the Civil War here on American soil, not as world-shattering as the events of WWII, yet even more in ’shades of gray’ than Vietnam. This war will likely be a Generational War, one in which even our children and grandchildren may be required to fight. Most importantly, this War on Terror is, like our Revolutionary War, a fight for our very existence. This is not the regurgitation of Hawkish propaganda, but the reasoning of one who has spent his lifetime studying the history of the World and this Nation in particular. May the Gods help our children! Pray that The Bull is wrong.

If I could ask just one thing of every American this weekend it would be for each of you to take a moment and consider all of the Veterans that you have met in your life. Think of how they have sacrificed for you, taught you, and loved you. With little thought you will realize just how much America’s Veterans have given to this Nation. Not just during their military service, but even afterwards. Add to that list those in uniform today as they are the Veterans of Tomorrow.

Complain about the politics of war if you wish. Such is your Right as an American Citizen. However, no matter your political stripe, support our troops in the field towards the Victory we need and they deserve!

Patriotically yours,
Bull*

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