Uncommon Valor
...the Chronicle
Your Valor and Virtue Sleep Not, but shine
through the night. They ignited once dim embers that are now burning
bright. You have set new standard for the U.S. to achieve. You awakened a
new spirit from sea to shining sea. An eternal flame ever shines on our
Flag that is still there! ...Greater Love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 KJV)
I’m certain that the picture of the fireman raising the
flag stirred most of us to the depths of our beings. A similar statue
reads; “uncommon valor was common virtue”. A picture truly is worth a
thousand words. It should become one of the icons of American Symbols
along with the Eagle, the American Flag, and the Declaration of
Independence.
That
picture was symbolic of so many thoughts and ideas that Americans hold
dear. Symbolic of:
Resurrection from the
rubble and ascension to a destined height
Raising hope for a future.
Bringing silent patriotism
and allegiance to “A Cause and A Nation” out of the closet ...putting
voice and action to it.
The spirit that birthed
America.
Raising a “new standard” to
which we as Americans must reach to achieve.
The spirit within Americans
that will not remain prostrate in the ashes of temporal devastation and
destruction.
The spirit that will never
give in or give up. For though a righteous nation (man) falls seven times,
it (he) rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
“United we stand”, what the
evildoers meant for evil served to awaken and unite a sleeping giant.
The words of our national
anthem that though tattered and torn ...our flag was still there.
A remnant of “self
sacrificing people in this nation who were and are willing to lay down
their lives for their friends”.
In
pondering the illustration for this writing and rendering, I was reminded
of the eternal flame that resides at the grave of John F. Kennedy serving
as a reminder that “greatness never sleeps”. At Arlington Cemetery, a
plaque reads, “Valor sleeps here”. But I say to the thousands lost that
day, September 11, 2001; your valor does not sleep, but burns brighter
still. It is symbolic of an eternal flame that guides us through the
darkness and out of the valley of the shadow of death. A table is being
prepared in the midst of America’s enemies ...She will prevail! Lost but
not forgotten ...the fruit of your labors and the sacrifices that you made
were not in vain but served to bring “a voice and a cause’ that was heard
around the world!
