I was in a few of those when a dignitary came to the fort - a visiting general, a senator, even some foreign generals. Nothing really big, but still cool.
I never was gung-ho much then, but being in those parades, being a part of that patriotic pageantry, that show of might, discipline, and past glory is quite impossible to describe. But I'll do it anyway.
It's more than pride, more than patriotism; it's the honoring of the history, lives, families of all those that were willing to die for us, died for us, were wounded for us, sacrificed wealth, family, security, happiness for a lot of people they were connect to by values they shared in anonymity.
And I got to walk right there alongside of them, in the same steps, to the same cadence as if I had a right to.
There is a missing piece to those who think that kneeling is simply a quiet, peaceful protest. And it's OK with me if they are never able to experience these un-shared emotions of forged anger/pride and heat treated love/protection, because that kind of worthiness has to be earned. And if the piece is missing, it won't appear, and there is nowhere to store it.
It looks like there is going to be a big one. The big thrill, a dream of a lifetime would be to participate, but it would all come back to me if I could just be there.
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