Words Of Pride
My first post here is a serious one. One which puts my ordinary life into a different perspective. A perspective that generally renders me grumpy. Today though I am humbled.
Warrant Officer 2 Gary O’Donnell, 40, of the Royal Logistic Corps, has won his second George Medal posthumously for “repeated and sustained acts of immense bravery”. It was the first award of a Bar to the George Medal in 26 years.
Full article here.
Please take time to read it if you can.
As if I wasn’t humbled enough after reading this account of yet another remarkably brave soldier, I then came upon a statement issued at the award ceremony by Lieut. General Graeme Lamb.
Here it is in full . . .
These warriors are the stuff of legend. The likes of Sgt Major O’Donnell, bigger than life, braver than a lion, saviour of others’ lives, holder of the George Medal – a most gallant gentleman. I only wish I had the privilege to have met him.These young men acted above and beyond the call of duty. I have read remarks from armchair critics that we are an army that is overwhelmed, humiliated and down trodden – an army that struggles to punch above its weight.Challenge those here with that claim. They are not consumed by trivial self-interest, barging others aside in order to gain some material advantage for ambition. These warriors are the stuff of legend.They know the meaning of life and death, of standing by your friends, of standing up and being counted. These young people are as tough as nails. They do get knocked on their backsides every so often but they do not lie there and whine that life is unfair. They get up, dust themselves off and get on with it. They are the British Armed Forces – they defend this realm and our way of life. They are made of sterner stuff and, when asked, will call out whomever, whenever, onto what ever field of battle they choose and do it gladly. Look no further for your 21st Century role models . . . these are your real heroes, they live among you, they defend you and your right to freedom and the freedom of those less fortunate than you. There are none better.They are drawn from across this nation and from regiments steeped in history from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. Colour or creed matters not, but mark this: They are of the right stuff.If you want to see all that is good,all that is great in this nation of ours and its Armed Forces look no further than the pages of these operational awards. And be humbled.
Made me think.
How about you?
That is all.
This should be printed out and pinned on the front door of No10. And the MoD HQ.
A proper Martin Luther nailing event.
And every damn internal door inside too.
This from a country that can launch a new fleet of Police helicopters with which to spy upon its own citizens yet leaves 8 brand new Chinooks in hangar for years while they argue about specs instead of them providing life saving support to our brave troops on the front line.
Labour Government, hang your heads in shame.
Yes indeed EBC, if only the ‘powers that be’ were to feel the same way and share the same sentiments that this gentleman has conveyed so well. If so, this country would then be a far better place than it is now.
I wonder, rather cynically perhaps, how soon it will be before the government pension this gentlemen off or place him in a position where his eloquent thoughts cannot be so readily heard by the general public?