Can a debt ever be repaid to those not here to collect?  Can any act or deed we may do, be enough to mark that debt “Paid in Full?”  The simple answer is no.  The simple truth is that we must never quit trying.  “A Gathering of Eagles” has become a clarion call that rings in my ears and pounds in my chest.  For many, March 17, 2007 will be just one more time they have answered this call, for others this has become the last-best chance to stand with their brothers and sisters and place a down payment on that debt.  That is why I ask the question, “If not now, when?”

I began to write this post last Monday.  I have re-written it several times in the past few days. That happens sometimes.  I get hung up on a title I like, and then I can’t write something appropriate to match. The working title has always been “If not now, when?”  It was this morning while browsing through the forum for “A Gathering of Eagles” that I saw this response to a troll by the name of “Patrick Henry.”   Patrick had been goading forum members for several days with the statement “But, I still don’t understand your mission,” or referring to the Vietnam Memorial as a “black wall in a hole.”  There were several well reasoned responses worthy of mention, but the following one stuck with me.  It was written by a vet who professed to me “…writing has never been one of my strong skills…”  My response is, “Your English teacher may have given you a ‘C’ for this response, but your Civics, History and Ethics teachers would have given this an A+.  I did.”

The following is reprinted with full permission from the author, John Cut.  At his request I have modified minor typos.

Continue reading "If Not Now, When?"

Contributed by The Gray Dog on February 15, 2007 at 07:44 PM in Caring about our troops, Coming home, Current Affairs, Gathering of Eagles, Patriotism, The Gray Dog, Viet Nam | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: Bill Faith

Awesome. I'm going to hang it just below my Gathering post for a couple of days and swipe a copy for my place (with the "Continue reading" pointing to your place.)

Posted by: Bill Faith | Feb 15, 2007 8:23:37 PM

Posted by: Bill Hanlon

We have waited 40 years. We have endured in our silence. That silence is now broken. Those who would defile OUR WALL have done the unthinkable. They have awakened a force like none other in the history of mankind. Now for a change there will be a stand. OUR WALL means little to others, it is not grand nor is it a political statement of any kind. It is a holy place to us, to our families, and to the families for 2 generations who has family names on that wall. It is SACRED in a way that only we can know deep in our hearts and souls, it is sacred in a way that only we can cry, in a way that we can know what we did was not for nothing.

The term "Band of Brothers" by Shakespere has no grteater meaning than those of us still alive and our family, friends, classmates who know one single name on OUR WALL. My helath is bad but my vote still counts. Any politican or cause that uses OUR WALL will have myself and others flood the internet. It is all I can do but I will proudly stand, in my way, at "The Gathering of Eagles". I pray they have the strength of tigers and the resolve of Warriors. I know none will break ranks and I know all will honor OUR WAll that day.

Posted by: Bill Hanlon | Feb 25, 2007 12:35:09 AM