I'm retiring from my civilian job on Friday, and then Mary has a nice, two-week vacation planned for us. We'll get to spend Mother's Day with her mom, and we'll spend some time in Myrtle Beach with her family.
In September I plan to walk across Illinois, from Quincy to Danville, to raise awareness of and support for our servicemen and women who are serving around the world. My plan is to walk about 10 miles each day, weather and other conditions permitting.
Though personally a pacifist, to the extent that I can get away with being a pacifist, I am a retired U.S. Army veteran. When I say that I am personally a pacifist, I mean that I prefer almost any reasonable means before violence, and that I would resort to violence only in self-defense or in defense of others (in a personal setting). I did not serve in the military as a conscientious objector.
Here is an interesting quote about war: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself." John Stuart Mill (1806‒1873)
That pretty much expresses my point of view of war, namely that it is a necessary evil (diplomacy carried on by other means). That does not mean that I consider those who honorably serve their country in the military as being evil. I do not. It is certainly honorable to put yourself in harm's way to defend your nation and to protect from harm those you love. I served first as an active duty soldier in the Army Security Agency, and later in both the Army Reserve and Illinois Army National Guard. I retired from the National Guard.
In the near future (probably as soon as May or June), I plan to drive the proposed route for planning purposes. Once I get on the road on foot, I’ll get out some news releases so people have some idea of when I’m coming through their area. Some local folks may want to come out and walk with me for part of the way, and I welcome such participation. If anyone wants to donate funds, those funds will go to Army Emergency Relief, 200 Stovall Street, Alexandria, VA 22332. I do not propose to use any such funds for expenses for the walk.
Several friends have asked whether I’ll be camping out, staying with friends, or staying in motels. The short answer is that I don’t yet know. My route survey and people’s receptiveness, friendliness, and support will play a role in where I rest my weary head. I’ll be available for photo opportunities and brief discussions, but I do not propose to embroil myself in lengthy or angry discussions. I am what I am, a patriotic American who cares about the members of his country’s armed forces.
We are a nation at war. Our service members are serving in harm’s way throughout the world, in many cases in actual combat. This is not a political blog. It is a blog in support of our troops. The walk is not a political statement. The lives of those of us who are living in peace and prosperity here in the relative safety of our homeland are more secure because of those who are serving in our military. They serve on our behalf. They represent us. They stand watch and protect us. And they lay down their lives when called on to do so.
The mission of this walk across Illinois is to remember those who have given their lives for our country, to raise awareness of those who are missing in action or who are prisoners of war, and to honor those who have served and those who are serving. I believe in the power of prayer to an almighty God, and I pray for our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines. As a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, I do not wrap the cross in the American flag: of course my ultimate citizenship is elsewhere, but that kingdom is not of this world, to paraphrase the words of Jesus, and I propose to continue to be of earthly usefulness for as long as I live on God’s green earth.
It’s my intention to update this blog from the road, with text and pictures.
I see no conflict between serving God and being an honorably discharged veteran. If you are like-minded, please let me hear from you. I can be reached at robloyal@aol.com.
Sincerely,
Rob Siedenburg
Hi Rob,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to following your progress, and I love your dedication to our service members. They deserve our full support. I grew up surrounded by veterans, so I am well aware of what they sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe.
My maternal grandfather served in two branches of the military and received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in Europe during World War II. His brother was also injured in Europe during that same time period. Their 19-year-old brother, who could have been excused from service, was killed in action in Korea. I have several uncles who saw action in Vietnam. My father was a marine, and he and my mother have recently served as commanders of Springfield's Disabled American Veterans chapter. A friend of mine received a Bronze Star for his actions in the First Gulf War and finally retired from the army as a chief warrant officer. He served multiple tours in Iraq, taking part in the opening "shock and awe" campaign, and was gone almost the entire first year after his wife delivered twins. My husband is an air force veteran, and I currently have two cousins stationed overseas.
I apologize for going on and on, but perhaps you will forgive me because you understand how proud and grateful I am for their service.
I can't wait to see your reports from the road! Good luck and be careful!
Lisa Crowder
Hi Rob.
ReplyDeleteBoth my brothers-in-law served in the Army National Guard, and one went on to ROTC after that. Additionally, my father was a gunner in post-WW2 Air Force and my siblings were in the Air Force, Navy, and Army, respectively (I didn't serve; the Marines didn't appeal to me). Supporting our troops is very important to me as I am acutely aware that their sacrifice secures our freedoms.
I will be watching with interest, and if you're going through Champaign on a weekend or not-a-workday, then we will come and walk with you. Thank you for raising awareness!
Looking forward to dinner with you and Mary when you return from your vacation!
P.S. As an experienced blogger to a newbie, may I suggest that you turn Comment Moderation on? I have found that if you have it set so that you have to approve all comments, it will allow you to reject any spam or mean-spirited comments. Although your agenda is not political, I can assure you that it may catch the attention of those whose agenda is. And may I also add that this is the first comment I've ever proof-read? Thus is the peril of commenting to your former editor/boss!