In Memoriam

Nick E. Morrison, Service # 35911900, Rank Private First Class, U.S. Army, Unit: 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Entered Service From Ohio. Date of Death June 2, 1944. Buried Plot B Row 9 Grave 31, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

Many Americans have the day off. They’re looking forward to barbecues and picnics, parades and games. Pursuit of happiness is good, albeit the Republic’s survival would be better served were Liberty pursued as vigorously as comforts and pleasures.

One way to connect with personal purpose is to reflect on those who came before us and endured great hardships and sacrifices, to bequeath to us, their heirs, a system of principles and laws designed to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Here are some men I will be reflecting on today:

My uncle Nick Morrison did not make it back from WWII. He was only 19 and gave “the last full measure of devotion,” sacrificing life, love and family. Think about that. I cannot imagine the agony my grandparents had to endure over the loss of their only son. Over 50 years later, a friend visited the Sicily-Rome Memorial Cemetery where he was laid to rest and brought back a photograph of his grave site which I gave to my mother. She still wept at the loss of her kid brother.

My uncle George Codrea was a Marine on Guadalcanal and also at Chosin in Korea. He passed away in 2006 and was interred at Arlington. I will always treasure that he took time out in his later years to support my RKBA advocacy by sending me news clippings to write about.

My uncle George Popa was also a Marine who served in WWII and Korea. He passed away in 2007 and was laid to rest at Old Mission San Luis Rey.

My father John Codrea was a Marine on Guam. He turned 21 on Pearl Harbor Day. Dad died in 2012 and was interred at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.

This is a day I have much to contemplate, including a solemn obligation to prove worthy of those who went before, of those I miss. I’m sure it is the same for most of you and especially for those of you either in harm’s way or who desperately love those who are.

Memorial Day 2012

My Uncle Nick did not make it back from WWII.  He was only 19, so he essentially sacrificed life, love and family. Think about that.  I cannot imagine the agony my grandparents had to endure. Over 50 years later, a friend visited the Sicily-Rome Memorial Cemetery where he was laid to rest and brought back a photograph of his grave site which I gave to my mother, and she still wept at the loss of her kid brother.

My Uncle George was a Marine on Guadalcanal and also at Chosin in Korea. He passed away in 2006 and is interred at Arlington. I will always treasure that he took time out in his later years to send me news clippings to write about.

My other Uncle George was also a Marine who served in WWII and Korea. He passed away in 2007.

My father John was a Marine on Guam. He turned 21 on Pearl Harbor Day. He is currently in hospice care.

This is a day I have had  much to contemplate.  I'm sure it is the same for most of you, and especially for those of you either in harm's way or who desperately love those who are.

In Memoriam

Nick E. Morrison, Service # 35911900, Rank Private First Class, U.S. Army,

Unit: 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, Entered Service From Ohio.

Date of Death June 2, 1944. Buried Plot B Row 9 Grave 31, Sicily-Rome American Cemetery

Many Americans have the day off. They’re looking forward to barbecues and picnics, parades, and games. Pursuit of happiness is good, albeit the Republic’s survival would be better served were Liberty pursued as vigorously as comforts and pleasures.

One way to connect with personal purpose is to reflect on those who came before us and endured great hardships and sacrifices, to bequeath to us, their heirs, a system of principles and laws designed to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”  

Here is who I will be remembering today, a man I never knew because his time came and was then cut short before I was born:

My Uncle Nick did not make it back from WWII.  He was so young, with a life ahead of him that he would never know, and gave “the last full measure of devotion,” sacrificing life, love, and family. Think about that. 

I cannot imagine the agony my grandparents had to endure over the loss of their beloved only son. Over 50 years later, a friend visited the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery where he was laid to rest and brought back a photograph of his gravesite which I gave to my mother. She still wept at the loss of her kid brother.

I'm sure everyone here has special memories to reflect on today. Let those solemn remembrances come with introspection and a prayer: May we be worthy.

A Memorial Day Remembrance

Years ago, when some friends and I launched the GunTruths website, I wrote an article about some of the flames we'd been receiving from antis who took offense at our unapologetic advocacy of the right to keep and bear arms.

One particularly hate-filled Brit wrote:

"When you broke away 200 years ago realise why we don't think it was as great a victory as you do! There have been lots of events over the years that have shown the US to be less than willing to participate in warfare, and when you do, your preoccupation with firing missiles or dropping bombs from a 'safe' distance means that our guys are in more danger from you. Don't get too close you might get your uniforms dirty!"

My observations follow. The complete article is on KABA.

How do you deal with this? These are people who think that pledging your "lives fortunes and sacred honor" against tyranny is no big deal. These are people who took out ads in newspapers pleading for Americans to "Send guns to defend a British home". These are people who, despite the experience of two world wars in the last eighty years disparage the concept of being invaded and needing guns, all the while living under the protective shield of a largely American NATO deployment throughout Europe. Tonight, as they sleep, United States military forces will be standing guard in the darkness.

I cannot but consider such unfair and stark ingratitude against the recollection of my boyhood visit to the World War II Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy, where, beneath an ordered formation of uniform white crosses, my Uncle Nick is interred. He never grew past his teens, never went to college, never married, had children, a career, or grandchildren. I can only speculate as to the paralyzing horror, the denial, the sorrow, and the helpless, tragic realization of finality that my grandparents must have gone through with the loss of their baby, their laughing, lovely boy, their cherished only son.

Trust me, beneficiaries of his sacrifice, Nick Morrison's uniform got dirty.




"The World War II Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial is situated at the north edge of the town of Nettuno, Italy. It is just east of Anzio and thirty miles south of Rome...Beyond the pool is an immense field of headstones of 7,862 American military Dead arranged in gentle arcs which sweep across the broad green lawns beneath rows of Roman pines... On the white marble walls of the chapel are engraved the names of 3,095 American Missing who gave their lives in the service of their country and whose remains were never recovered or identified."
--From The American Battle Monuments Commission

Personally, I'd Rather Have My Kid

More than a year after a law enforcement officer’s mistake left a teen dead and a family in grief, Peyton Strickland’s parents finally have found closure.

That closure came on Tuesday evening with a settlement of $2.45 million and a public apology from New Hanover County [North Carolina] Sheriff Sid Causey. Additionally, Causey agreed to an independent review of the heavily armed team responsible for Strickland’s death.

That wouldn't bring any "closure" to me. I'd still miss my boy.

A friend of mine went to visit his relatives in Sicily. My Uncle is interred there, at the Nettuno American Cemetary. He was killed in action, little more than a boy, but by default more of a man than most, who had spent all his life prior to that in Warren, OH.

My friend took a Polaroid of Uncle Nick's grave and I gave it to my Mom. She looked at it and cried. Excuse me, dammit, I am tearing up now, it was just so sad to see her pain and to recall it now.

It was over half-a-century later and she still missed her kid brother. It still could break her heart, as losing their only son broke the hearts of her parents until the day they died.

I don't know what the hell this "closure" is the reporter being quoted is referring to. How do you stop grieving for a lost child?

[Via William Y]

Memorial

As with many families, I'll be keeping the men in mine who served, sacrificed and are no longer with us in my thoughts and prayers today.

Two in particular stand out for me:

Uncle George and Uncle Nick.

To Whom It May Concern

So sorry to hear about  [INSERT NAME HERE] [More]

One of the most heart-wrenching scenes in Mel Gibson's brilliant "We Were Soldiers" deals with the way death notices were delivered to the wives.

I'll not ask my mother how her parents got the news about her kid brother, my Uncle Nick.  Some years back a friend went to Italy to visit relatives living near Nettuno and took a photo of his grave. This was over 50 years after the fact and it still made her weep.

I saw McCain seemingly making the case for Syrian intervention last night in his RNC speech and wondered why he was not pelted off the stage instead of cheered.

Armed American Radio Tonight

I'll be joining Mark Walters tonight for all of Hour One, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. I'll be discussing:

• A Memorial Day rememberance of my Uncle Nick which some of you may remember from an earlier tribute.
• How "Spreading 'Lies of Omission' Can Be a Good Thing."
• And more.

Hour Two will feature Alan Gottlieb. Dave Workman will be on in Hour Three.

Go to the AAR website to find a station near you or to listen via live streaming.

For the Children

The better to subjugate you with, my dear...[Read]

Europe.

Would someone please explain to Uncle Nick what it was his life was ripped from him for--especially when he was only a few years past childhood himself?

If they're going to squander the sacrifice and demand from the tyrants what could not be taken, why make it?

This is My Shocked Face

California Lawmakers Vote to Raise Age for Buying Long Guns From 18 to 21 [More]

So Uncle Nick wouldn't have been old enough?

Things sure have changed.

For California, it's no secret why.

Not that those hitting gun owners up for money to futilely try to stem the predictable results of their deliberate indifference are interested in trying a different approach.

[Via Bluesgal]