Lump in the throat time

This is a video is of 1215 servicemen and women re-enlisting in a July 4th, 2008 ceremony presided over by General Petraeus in a former Saddam Hussein palace. This is twice the number of re-enlistments from a similar ceremony last year.

In the spring of 1864, tens of thousands of Union volunteers, who had signed up for three years service in 1861 were up for discharge.

They had served with honor and distinction, they had every honorable reason to take their discharges and go home, but if they did so, the cause of the Union would be in jeopardy. They knew with utter certainty what awaited them if they signed up again ... and what might be lost if they did not. Over 30,000 of them reenlisted ... that action, as much as any other, saved the Union.

The young men and women in this video show the spirit of the volunteer soldiers of our nation.

It would be hard not to believe that hovering near them are the spirits of many who have given the last full measure of devotion to their country and freedom, and now whisper, "Thank you soldier, God bless you, and well done."

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Posted July 9, 2008 03:24 PM
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