“Old
soldiers never die; They just fade away.”
At least that is the saying, I’ve heard so many say.
“Onward Christian Soldiers marching off to war
With the cross of Jesus going on before.”
How well I
remember that tune. Throughout history, soldiers of every faith have
fought the battles of righteousness. May their efforts never be
forgotten.
I knew my dad
was writing some memoirs in 1977 before he died, but I never read them
until over twenty years later. I had read his radio speeches that were
broadcast over WEAN. in Rhode Island in the 30’s and tried to practice
what he preached while raising nine children. But I had never seen his war
memoirs until 1998. They had been carefully stored away in an old
tapestry carpetbag. The flimsy sheets of thin typing paper were held
together by an old rusty paper clip.
“Many men
have given their lives to help keep your freedom, Mary,” daddy would say,
“Make sure you enjoy it.”
Once again,
now in 2001, men are standing up to “Fight for Freedom.” Let us not
forget that history repeats itself and let us remember freedom is a true
gift worth fighting for as our forefathers have. Thus, in an attempt to
help preserve a bit of history, I share my father’s memoirs.
Mary MacCombie Fietsam
