Patriotism – Do you have it? What is it?

I come from a large family of military Aunts and Uncles from both sides of my family. All were patriotic and taught me what it was to be patriotic. My grandfather on my father’s side Paul Elmo Newton Sr. served in the United States Navy during World War II. Two of his sons Paul Elmo Newton Jr. and Donald Edmund Newton served in the Navy after World War II ended. My grandfather’s youngest son, Roger Kern Newton was a paratrooper medic during the Vietnam War and received the Bronze star for Heroism. My grandfather and two oldest uncles are gone now and my youngest uncle is now in a nursing home in Florida.

On my mother’s side of the family I had a number of aunts, uncles and cousins who served. My uncle Charles Eggleston Huband was a Marine, Uncle Richard Vania Huband (Dicky) was a Marine and served during World War II and later served in the army during Vietnam. My uncle Auther Lee Huband served in the army during World War II and lost a lung. My aunt Ruth Elizabeth Moore was a Navy Wave and served as an Air Raid Warden. My uncle Ryland Gary Huband served during Korea and served during Desert Storm. My aunt Ruth’s husband, Gordon Lee Moore II served in the U.S. Navy. Both his sons Gordon Lee Moore II and Llomar Lynne Moore, a Lieutenant Commander, also served in the Navy. Now their sons are pilots. Thomas Lynn Moore III flew at one time the helicopter for President Bush and Gordon Lee Moore, II became a commercial pilot.

I know what sacrifice and patriotism are. In last week’s edition of the Powhatan Today, I read that our National Guard Unit, the 180th Engineer Company has been ordered to active duty in Iraq for the second time. I remember when I came home in 2005, I was on Rt. 60 and traffic was stopped for their bus to make the turn into the village of Powhatan. No one got out of their car to wave, or salute or even put a hand over their heart. I think there should have been cars and people lined up along 60 to welcome them home. It is our duty as citizens of the U.S. to be patriotic. Soldiers have sacrificed to protect us and suffered to give us our freedom from the making of our wonderful U.S. till present time America. The red color of the Flag reminds me of this. It is why we must always put our hand over our hearts when we see our flag paraded. We as citizens owe our Freedom to soldiers. We must play a bigger part in today’s world to be patriotic.

During World War II there were so many USO locations for Soldiers to go to away from home. They were invited into people’s homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. There were home parties where people put what little money they had into Jars to help their friends pay their rent. There were war bonds to help pay for the war.

In Today’s world there is an out cry for wars to stop. You cannot have freedom if you don’t sacrifice for it. School children do send cards to our soldiers and some people send care packages, but shouldn’t we do more? I would like to see the names of our soldiers in Powhatan County be printed in the paper along with their birthdates. I want us to support our soldiers 100 percent to let them know we care that we appreciate their patriotism.

We always need to show how proud Americans are, how patriotic we are, to show we care. It is our duty.

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