A Prayer Of Remembrance...A Thought

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The Weekly Writing Challenge

I've participated in this weekly writing activity for some time. I've written a lot of little short stories with a picture or two acting as inspiration--some pictures I've liked more than others. 

This one I like a lot.

And, as always, if you'd like to write a little story yourself, here are the rules:

1) Use the above photo and the five mandatory words in your story.

2) Keep your word count 500 or less.

3) You have until next Tuesday night to link up your story.

4) Use the Blue Link to add your story at Debb's or Tena's websites. 

5) Have fun, don't stress, and let those creative juices flow!

The five words for this week are:

Footloose

Inherit

Genuflect

Stun

Audacious

So, here it is!

A Prayer Of Remembrance

A million words, a million thoughts, a million memories from a million people who stood and challenged the worst that one species can inflict upon itself. We gather, not often enough, and honor those who accepted that challenge at the risk of their own lives and the effect their actions have on the lives of their loved ones.

At these most all too infrequent occasions, we think of the men and women, many that returned from service, some that did not, but all that had been forever changed, and we consider the costs they endured in our names. They left in planes and ships and trains to counter audacious actions of men hiding behind flags to justify their greed, their quest for power as they try to inherit greatness from a sick god.

We meet, and give thanks, and then we return to our lives and wish for a footloose existence--a life, interestingly enough, wished upon us by those who served. Unless directly effected by the consequences of war, we forget--so easily forget that the struggle remains. For evil has never disappeared entirely from the earth. Time and time again, the reality of life acts to stun the ignorant who believe evil can be eradicated from humanity. Or even worse, they convince themselves that evil doesn't exist at all, and therefore, they genuflect themselves to a force bent on their destruction.

And so the time again comes when we unfurl the colors of our country and gather to remember those with the courage to act, the strength to overcome and the will to counter the evil acts of men. And pray we'll remember.

Word Count: 279