Patriot
Stories
A
Patriot Named Manuel
by
Dale Gould
Manuel
fled Cuba in 1961 and became an American citizen the following year. Years
later he�s living for a time in the Seattle area with his permanent home in
Florida.
Manuel
arrived in Bellevue by bus about 9 a.m. to attend the rally. When I arrived
at 9:30, Manuel walked up to me and with a big smile introduced himself. Not
familiar with Bellevue streets, he had wondered around a bit looking for the
rally location, and asked me if he had found the right place. I said he,
indeed, had and I thanked him for coming. He said, �I have to be here to
support my troops and our great country. I love the USA. I love this land. I
have a lot for which to give thanks. We have to protect ourselves and it is time
Americans awakened to this fact.�
Manuel
continued, �I think some Americans are naive because they don�t understand
what they have here, wonderful freedom, and the many good things this great
land offers. I lived in a communist country. What my family suffered there
was terrible. We need to support our veterans of past wars and our troops
now serving.�
Webmaster�s note: I,
too, had an opportunity to speak with Manuel. He asked me if we could
somehow mention that Fidel Castro was the Cuban dictator back when he
escaped and he�s still there today. Manuel has a hard time understanding why
there are Americans, such as movie stars, that support and even visit Fidel
as if he were a great man to honor. I said I didn�t understand it myself, but
it seems the same crowd that honors Castro are those who do little more than
belittle our men and women in uniform.
About Kimberly, a Patriot
by Dale Gould
If you were
attending the OSOT rally at Camp Murray, Saturday, February 1, you may have
noticed a woman in a wheelchair
holding a hand made sign with the words �We love you, we pray for you
everyday.�
I started
up a conversation with her and in response to a question, she said, �I want
to support my country, America.� With her proud voice rising, she went on,
�and my military and my president. I appreciate the USA for its stand to
help free all of the countries in the world from oppression.�
�If I could
be a pilot and fly an airplane,� she continued, �I would be the first pilot
to drop bombs on Iraq, to set Iraq�s people free from oppression and from
its leader. I want the people to have what I have and that is freedom and
peace.�
Kimberly
was born in South Korea. When very young, she lost her mother and brother
when North Korea invaded South Korea. She became a citizen of the United
States in 1973. “I am very, very proud of my country, the United States of
America. And my country is worth fighting for,� she firmly states.
Kimberly is a real testimony to what our great country is all about. I
thanked her for being at the rally.
Fellow Americans, we have so much to be thankful for, I don’t think we can
appreciate our freedoms until we talk to someone like Kimberly. From where
do freedom and the rights it brings with it come? Yes, by being born an
American citizen, we are guaranteed under the constitution certain
inalienable rights, various freedoms being among those rights. Freedom and
those rights would not be intact if it weren�t for the military and all
those who have served and now serve to protect us and our constitution. They
have not only served, but many have given their blood and their lives for
their country. It is important to attend the OSOT rallies and show our
support, just as Kimberly does who said to me, �It is my duty and honor to
be at these rallies.�
When you see Kimberly at these rallies, take time to say hello and
thank her for being there.