Ed Wood "The Right Stuff" Published April 2, 2003

To serve and protect

I guess it was what our young people of today would call a "happening," a gathering of friends and neighbors on the third floor of the courthouse to pay homage and tribute to those who are this day defending our freedoms in an alien land - far from home.

The event was organized by the White County Republican Party, but as chairman Donald Holman said, "This is not the time for us to be divided as Democrats or Republicans, but to be united as Americans!" And so we were - from White, Putnam, Cumberland and other neighboring counties.

The large courtroom was filled. There were prayers invoking the will of the Almighty to give us victory on the field of battle as we struggle to overcome evil and liberate an oppressed and brutalized people. And there were prayers asking for mercy for the souls of those who now find themselves in harm's way, Christian and non-Christian alike.

The audience rose to its feet as my granddaughter, Elizabeth, got to the part about "gladly standing up for America" in the Lee Greenwood song, "God Bless the USA," and again when she sang "God Bless America."

Of course Uncle Sam was there, in the costume left over from last year's 4th of July parade, and a miniature third-grade George Washington told of the virtues of the Father of our Country.

Sparta Fire Chief Ed Kay, who has fought a few battles of his own, both at home and abroad, brought a moving testimonial thanking God that we have leaders who recognize and distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, and have the character and conviction to take a stand, whether it's politically correct or not.

He acknowledged that we are angered by the shameful words and actions of those who have mistaken their celebrity for wisdom, and reminded us that we do not owe the freedoms we enjoy today to some "actor, singer, or back-room-dealing politician who has never sacrificed anything at all, let alone their lives, for the good of the country." And he admonished us to remember those who serve in harm's way, and their families, with a call, a note, a prayer little things to us that mean so much to those who are so far away - and scared.

Mrs. Kathleen Mohr, who heads Operation Home Front Today, a local organization of mothers and grandmothers of service men and women, introduced herself as, "a nobody just the mother of a hero," and made an impassioned appeal for the support of others who may be called upon to make a similar sacrifice.

Yellow ribbons were worn by all, and long-stemmed yellow roses were presented to each of the service mothers present.

To borrow a line from the song of the late Doris Akers, there was a "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" in that place. And just because you weren't there, doesn't mean you can't join in that same spirit of thanksgiving, tribute, and praise wherever you are right now.
Chief Ed Kay concluded:

·May God bless and protect each one of our servicemen and women.

·May God bless their families.

·And may God bless America!

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Ed Wood is a resident of Sparta, TN. His column is published each Wednesday in the Crossville Chronicle.