FREEDOM IS NOT FREE
Rep. Mike Morley
Never does that statement have more significance than at this time of the year when, on Memorial Day, we celebrate our heroic past through the remembrance of our war heros and veterans as well as all those progenitors who have gone before, making life better for those of us who have followed. I certainly have been the beneficiary of many remarkable forefathers who, either through their military service or through a heritage of pioneering and love of family have endowed me and my family with a proud legacy.
I have looked with great honor and respect to men and women in our community who have fought in the great world wars and conflicts throughout the past half century or more, protecting our country against tyranny and loss of freedoms. Some have given their lives in this cause. Many more who lived continue to infuse our communities with a great feeling of patriotism and devotion to this great land of America. It is remarkable to look at some of our elderly statesman who appear to be just simple citizens of a small farming community in what used to be rural Utah and then learn of their unheralded acts of heroism and selflessness in battle.
I look to men like Walt Stewart, Dale Barney, Jim Hathaway, Roy Lundell, Bill Bufton, Cleve Bingham, Bob Andrews, Jay Christensen and Gail Halvorsen, the “Candy Bomber”, just to name a very few; men who live among us as examples of all that is honorable and good about America. There are so many others. We all know of such heros in our midst. I hesitate to begin naming names because there are so many who have contributed so much, most without seeking or wanting any recognition. Please know that your sacrifices have not gone unappreciated.
Recently in our area, we took the opportunity to honor some of the veterans of World War II who fought so bravely in defending our country from the atrocities of the Nazis and the aggressions of the Japanese empire. One such individual, Cleve Bingham, flew an unprecedented 64 bombing missions over the Pacific. After the war, he returned to Spanish Fork to live out the rest of his life, humbly serving as a scoutmaster and touching the lives of countless young men up until his death just a couple of years ago. This is not an isolated instance because similar acts have been and are still today being repeated time and again in our communities. I refer with gratitude to the men and women who are just returning from service in Iraq. Yes, heroism and patriotism is alive and well in southern Utah County.
In addition to our war heroes, our lives have each been touched by heros in our in our own communities and families. They may not have defended our freedoms on foreign soil, but have nevertheless worked tirelessly here at home in support of our liberties as well as defending our traditional family values which are currently under attack. They are dedicated to rearing good families with a strong work ethic. They make our towns, and ultimately our state and nation, what they are today. I am certainly the beneficiary of wonderful parents and honorable progenitors who have instilled these values in me. Hopefully, I will have the wisdom and ability to pass them on to future generations.
“Over the years, the meaning of Memorial Day has faded more and more from public consciousness. From a solemn day of mourning, remembrance, and honor to our departed loved ones, it has degenerated into a weekend of barbeques, shopping bargains, and beaches where only token nods toward our honored dead are given, if at all. Too many people don’t even know what the day stands for. Memorial Day used to be a solemn, sacred day that was reserved only for remembrance of those who gave their all for this country; just one day to pause and reflect out of the entire year. Businesses used to close for the day. Towns held parades honoring the fallen, with the parade routes oftentimes ending at the local cemetery where veterans were buried, and where Memorial Day speeches were given. People took the time that day to clean and decorate with flowers and flags the graves of those who fell in service to their country. (David Marchant from www.usmemorialday.org)”
Although many fail to recognize the significance of this day and view it only as another holiday weekend, Spanish Fork and other neighboring cities have continued to revere this day through special Memorial Day services held at our local cemetery, reminding us of the honor and dignity with which these men and women served and, in some instances, gave their lives to preserve the blessings of liberty for us and this nation. It is my hope we will always remember that our freedoms are not easily held. May we never forget the costs of maintaining a free society are high and commit ourselves to untiring dedication in this cause.
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