I have always been a fan of military history. I have books about warfare from the Greeks to Iraq and Afghanistan. I grew up reading the stories of people like Julius Caesar, Leonidas and the Spartans, Xenophon, Genghis Kahn and many others. My favorites, though, are the Americans, ones like George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Blackjack Pershing, and George Patton. The list is endless. And fascinating. There are so many stirring stories of American patriots, from the beginning to present day. To read some of those stories, you wonder how could they have achieved what they did under such impossible conditions. I finally figured that out, it is because of their love for their comrades and their country. And it is because of men like these that America is what it is today.



Merriam-Webster defines patriotism as love for or devotion to your country. And there are many different types. Let us just say that it is someone who loves their country and is willing to do anything to make it better. The US military defines it in it's own way, the Soldiers Creed says-- I am an American fighting man. I serve in the forces which guards my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. That is patriotism. The willingness to lay your life on the line for your country.



For those of you who do not know, US Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, by the President on 22 October 2007 for his actions in Afghanistan. The citation reads, “In his final act of bravery he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly gave his life for his country and for the cause of freedomâ€