As a 13 year old boy, I took the Boy Scout Oath and the Scout Law. I recited: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country; to help other people at all times, to obey the Scout Law and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
The Scout Law followed: “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient, friendly, cheerful, thrifty, obedient, brave. clean and reverent.”
My Boy Scout experience was a foundation stone for building my life. It has made my life much better than it otherwise might have been.
After the same manner, young men and women who join aour Armed Services take an oath: I (name) do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against al enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, So help me God.
After the same fashion, there is the U.S. SOLDIERS CREED. It reads as follows:
I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I will always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America, in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American Way of Life.
I am an American soldier.
Let it here be recognized that these men and women of arms deserve our respect and ongoing support. On this Veterans Sunday, let us salute them and promise them OUR respect and support.
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