Freedom’s Hope

On the Back Porch

“Hush little baby, don’t you cry. “Cuz you’re the apple of your Daddy’s eye.” 

In my mind I can hear my Mother singing to me as a little child though I didn’t even know what an apple was. I was a happy little kid with the world as my playground. I did not know my Dad was a hero!

Because, in my early childhood memories, it seems that he was always around. He worked long hours and I was a busy youngster with all the things a busy youngster can be busy with. Papa Hop was there to help me with my play and chores, and a lot of those memories come from stories told to me by others. 

I didn’t see my Mother crying, nor did I see the pained look on her face. I didn’t hear the hushed whispers from the grown-ups, nor the pity in their eyes, and I paid very little attention to my older cousins when they would ask and tell me things they had been privy to when they were tuned in to grown-up conversations.

After all, life was extremely busy for a two or three year old cowboy. True enough, I would stand tall beside my Granddad, Papa Hop, when the soldiers would march past with our Flag, Old Glory, flying proudly in the breeze. 

And I am sure that I joined every person there as we placed our right hand over our heart and held our hats in our left hand to say the “Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag” or sing our National Anthem in a loud and proud voice, though I did not exactly know all of the words. And my head would bow in reverent prayer for our troops overseas, our president, and our nation. 

All this while, my Dad was a World War II United States Army Infantry foot soldier and a captive POW held in a German Stalag in Europe. But, I did not know my Dad was a hero! I did not know his story for many years because he would not talk about those tough years. 

Yes, like any meddling child, I found the box where he kept his medals and my brothers and I would pin them on our shirts and march with our shouldered guns as we played army, and we always put those medals back in the box where they stayed until we were ready to be pretend soldiers again. 

But, I did not know my Dad was a hero! As the years melted away and we became young men that had been taught by a Dad that was very demanding and expected results as he taught us the value of hard work and how to do the job right the first time. 

He taught us how to love the land, respect the animals, and appreciate God’s creation. His teaching included table manners, removing our hat inside and especially at the dinner table. He taught us to always hold our elders in high esteem, to be gentlemen around the ladies, and never back talk our Mama. 

He helped us to read the Bible and how to become Christians that loved the Lord. He even taught us things that we did not realize we were learning until years later. But I did not know my Dad was a hero! 

After his death, Mother gave me his diary that he secretly kept in the German prison camp. It was written on scraps of paper and tied together with bits of string. It held stories about his men and their struggle to survive…stories that will put a lump in your throat and bring tears to your eyes and make you fiercely proud of all the patriotic veterans that sacrificed so very much that you and I might live a life that allows us to pray and say “Thank you, Lord for our bounty!” 

And now we live in this great country and enjoy these blessings, and we should often say “Thank You!” to our veterans that make it possible to live in “One Nation, Under God, Home of the Free… Because of the Brave.”  I

 did not know my Dad was a hero, but now I know that he was and that we all are surrounded by these brave patriotic Veterans that are our unsung heroes. So, take a moment to reflect and then tell these veterans, “Thank You!”  

 

Freedom’s Hope

 

Once more, War had raised its mean ugly head,

to rip apart a peaceful time.

To plunge a nation from its slumber bed,

our men and women in their prime.

 

Then the call had come, as it always will.

Uncle Sam would need a good hand.

Men and women hurried to fill the bill,

answer the call, to make a stand.

 

Tho, ignorance blinds the misguided few,

that gather to march in dissent.

Our constitution gives the right for them to spew,

their foolish sordid discontent.

 

But our Country will fight the tyrant’s hand,

as we gallantly forge ahead.

Our brave men and women will make a stand,

to stop and prevent evils spread.

 

Liberty and Justice would soon prevail,

God’s strength was there to take us through.

Our Flag would proudly wave o’er hill and dale,

a glorious red, white, and blue!

 

Our nation would squash the dreaded evil,

but victory would have its price.

People learned to deal with life’s upheaval,

face the ultimate sacrifice.

 

Yes, liberties flame burns true, in you and me.

And God’s own love holds steadfast.

While our nation stands strong, and proud, and free,

and hard won peace comes at last.

 

The courage of America stands tall!

Hand on heart, as Old Glory waved.

We will fight for right and answer the call,

until America’s Freedom is saved!

Ol’ Jim Cathey   

 

God bless each of you, and God Bless AMERICA!

And God Bless our gallant Veterans!

The Rosebud News

251 Live Oak St
Marlin, TX 76661
Phone: (254) 883-2554
Fax:(254) 883-6553