Freedom
"Freedom has a taste to those who fight and almost die for it, that the protected shall never know." These monumental words were discovered scratched into a lonely solitary confinement cell, following the release and liberation of some true American heroes, our Prisoners of War. For a moment, we must pause and reflect on the meaning of such an epic thought.
Most of us rise, work, play and sleep in a rather mundane fashion. We take for granted all the simple things in life—all our freedoms and privileges. Things such as our morning coffee, comfortable couches, cell phones, luxury automobiles, lovely homes, our right to vote or to express our opinions vocally, our right to practice religion as we deem fitting and most importantly, take for granted our families. All of these things become part of our daily lives and often become “routine” as we expect and demand them to be there whenever we need or want them.
Perhaps it is part of our culture, to expect the best out of life regardless of the expense. However, I ask you to consider this for a minute—what IS the actual expense?
Over the past several decades, brave young people were called to service during a time of true American turmoil. Each one of these patriots marched, rode, flew or dropped into harm’s way, into the twisted corners of the earth where only God and the Devil dueled. American warriors fought with fists, guns, bayonets and even with rocks, to protect the freedoms of those back home. They did not complain—they did not scoff; instead, they embraced the spirit of American in its purest forms, for the love of country and did what their nation asked.
Some were broken, some captured, and some were never heard from again; however their contributions to the protection of the American concept of freedom never wavered. While many others remained safe at home (protected), tasting apple pie, Coca-Cola, and Mom’s cooking; these brave warriors set behind all of these freedoms and tasted combat, blood, agony, loneliness, and abuse.
Today I had the great privilege of meeting some of the people who paid that expense; that bill—my bill—YOUR bill! I had the distinct honor of celebrating the selfless sacrifices of some of the men, women, brothers, sisters and friends known as POW/MIA’s. With heart-filled gratitude, I placed a ceremonial medallion around each person’s neck, shook their hand firmly, looked into their eyes and sincerely thanked them for their commitment to our great nation and for “paying our bill”. These people KNOW what freedom tastes like—they lost it! They lost EVERYTHING that we take for granted every day but fortunately, endured agony and despair only to taste the sweetness of freedom once again.
I ask each one of you to honor our American men and women who have served and are serving at home and in harm’s way. They have made a commitment—swore an oath to “…defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…and to... bear true faith and allegiance to the same…”Although I can never fully express my gratitude to these true heroes, our POW/MIAs, I know I share a similar taste for freedom and will uphold my commitment to this great nation as I have for the past 21 years. Why? It’s simple--so the” protected” will never have to know!
SMSgt Matthew “Mad Dog” Becker
AFSA International Membership (ADHOC) Committee Member
AFSA Division 89 Treasurer
AFSA Chapter 984 President
“Lead Me—Follow-Me—or Get Out of My Way”