The Call of Duty

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13 NKJV

Very soon I hope to begin a recurring series on "Great America" in which I want to explore some of the one or two-word characteristics that mark this great nation. Words like: self-reliance, responsibility, discovery, melting-pot, capitalism, and know-how. I am afraid that many or most of these characteristics have come to be looked upon as terms of disdain rather than honor and pride. I think these standards need a resurrection! We need to hold them up before our own eyes and the eyes of our children and say - "There! - that's a worthy goal!"

One such word is "duty".

And it comes to mind this Memorial Day because it is a word whose proper use is waining. In William J. Bennett's "The Book of Virtues", the story is told of Cincinnatus. He was a former Roman statesman but had returned to faithful duty on his farm. When Rome was threatened in 458 B.C. and much of the army had been lost to the enemy, they called on Cincinnatus - a man of wisdom.

The messengers that were sent to him found him plowing in his field; they asked him to don his toga as they conferred the message from the Senate asking him to lead the city and the few remaining soldiers into battle. Cincinnatus, left his plow and went to war.

In a short time, he returned to the city having led the troops to victory. In appreciation they offered him the role of Dictator - he promptly declined and returned to his plow.

Cincinnatus was a role-model for our own "Cincinnatus of America" - George Washington. During the French and Indian War, duty called and he answered only to return to his farm afterward. Again, duty called him to service to lead the troops in the American Revolution. At the end of which, he returned to his farm. At the Constitutional Convention and later as President for two terms - Washington fulfilled the command of moral obligation - and served. Then in every instance, he returned to his farm.

On this Memorial Day, we remember with gratitude those that have fallen in the defense of our freedoms. We recall that it was a sense of duty that drew them to serve.

We are truly thankful for their service.

But today I am remembering some other folks. People that are serving now - they are still among the living and yet in following the call of duty - they lay down their lives daily.

I am ashamed to say that sometimes I forget those that are in foreign lands today. I forget that they are defending our freedoms no less than their counterparts of past wars. It was that same sense of duty that drove many of them to enlist after evil struck home in 2001.

Many of them were in the Reserves, they had other jobs and yet they set them aside for a time.

They know that the results of their success "over there" often means that Americans soon become distracted and complacent... and forget. Yet they follow their duty - they serve.

Many will return to follow in the footsteps of Cincinnatus, Washington and countless others... to return to their farms, their schools, their businesses, their families - to yet another call of duty.

I don't know that any military personnel will read this - but if so - please know:

We are grateful.

As we honor those that have fallen; we remember those who serve.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

"The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories" edited with commentary by William J. Bennett. Simon & Schuster, New York,NY 1993.