Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
- John 12:26

Once we have a war there is only one thing to do. It must be won. For defeat brings worse things than any that can ever happen in war.
- Ernest Hemingway

I'm overwhelmed by the sense of duty, honor, and sacrifice shown by our military professionals in our current on-going struggle against the evil forces of Islamist terrorism.

I hope to instill some of this sense of honor in my children as they grow up, and in others as I have the opportunity. Honor is an amazing concept:

• We can give honor to others by offering high esteem, respect, or commendation; we find this to be most fitting in recognition of selfless service.
• We can earn honor from others, and even from God Himself, by acting honorably...but we cannot demand or purchase it.
• We receive honor only after humbling ourselves (Proverbs 15:33: The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.)

I like the definitions in the Webster's 1913 Unabridged Dictionary:

1. Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence.
2. That which rightfully attracts esteem, respect, or consideration; self-respect; dignity; courage; fidelity; especially, excellence of character; high moral worth; virtue; nobleness.

These sum up the two-fold nature of honor: we give it to those who deserve it, and we earn it by living out the character qualities that make us deserving of it.

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A superb example is the story of Lieutenant Michael Murphy, United States Navy - a Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) officer. He was the most recent recipient (October 2007) of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sadly, he received it posthumously, because he gave his life for his comrades and for his nation in performance of his mission.

Go see the official web site about his life and his Medal of Honor award - click here

His Medal of Honor citation begins thus:

FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY...

and it ends with:

IN HIS FINAL ACT OF BRAVERY, HE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE THE ENEMY UNTIL HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED, GALLANTLY GIVING HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY AND FOR THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. BY HIS SELFLESS LEADERSHIP, COURAGEOUS ACTIONS, AND EXTRAORDINARY DEVOTION TO DUTY, LIEUTENANT MURPHY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

I must note here that I (Dan) have served as a military officer, too, but I'm almost ashamed to say so, by comparison to such a great young leader. I can only hope that in similar circumstances I would have shown a fraction of the courage that LT Murphy did.

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A few quotes I find applicable:

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- John 15:13 (NIV)

Historians may write of this time in American history that we were not the greatest generation - that we fell short on many fronts. But I hope they also write that like our ancestors we too fought for freedom, that we too confronted evil, that we too endured a great trial and won a victory for the future of mankind.
- Senator Rick Santorum, National Press Club, 20 July 2006

The proper response to difficulty is not to retreat, it is to prevail.
- President George W. Bush, Speech to United Nations, 21 Sep 2004

True religion looks upon as peaceful those wars that are waged not for motives of aggrandizement, or cruelty, but with the object of securing peace, of punishing evil-doers, and of uplifting the good.
- St. Augustine

When a nation is challenged by the assaults of evil men to draw the sword in defence of justice, it may rightfully appeal to God to grant it victory upon the field, and may appropriately refer its victories to His favoring Providence.
- Joseph P.Thompson, Broadway Tabernacle Church, 11 Sep 1864

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"America, America, God shed his grace on thee."

One Nation
Under God
Indivisible
With Liberty, and Justice, for All.

Let Freedom Ring.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD. (Psalm 33:12, NIV)