This Country.....MY Country

Patriotism: devoted love, vigorous support, and passionate defense of one's country; national loyalty……“Devoted”, “Vigorous”, “Passionate”.  Based on that definition, where do you fall in the spectrum of patriotism?  John F. Kennedy once said, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”  Are you willing to live that statement?  Can you look in the mirror and see a reflection of what this country stands for?  The principles upon which it was founded? 

There are several things in this life that I am overwhelmingly passionate about.  This list includes, but is not limited to my family, the Green Bay Packers, and MY country.  Yes, mine….the one I am willing to die for, because I believe in her greatness above all others.  I believe in her traditions.  I believe in her foundation.  I believe in the vision of, and the inspiration given to, our founding fathers.

240 years ago, the Colonies' Second Continental Congress, represented by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston, authored the document that forged the basis for our celebrations this day.  On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the official and final version of the Declaration of Independence.  I’d love to think that on the back of that document is the picture of a massively majestic bald eagle, in all his glory, giving King George III, Great Britain, and their parliament the big middle finger.

Four days after the document was officially signed, its first public reading took place at Independence Square in Philadelphia.  The subsequent year was the first celebration of Independence Day, and was accompanied with ringing bells, bonfires, and fireworks.  And thus the tradition of fireworks on the 4^th of July was born.

The United States Constitution was adopted and signed on 17 September, 1787 and its ratification certified on 13 September, 1788.  The Preamble of this document explains the purpose for which it was written: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Going through high school and college, I remember studying 28 principles of liberty that were used to build our constitution and subsequent Bill of Rights.  As I stand back and look at the political agendas being pushed, and the direction my country seems to be heading, my heart hurts to see so much deviation from these guiding principles.  Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher summed it up well.  Here are 2 of their respective quotes.  WC said, “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”  MT said, “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money.”  I don’t believe it could have been stated any more clearly.  I believe every one of them to be true, but allow me to share several of these 28 that stand out most to me:

1.       A free people cannot survive under a republican constitution unless they remain virtuous and morally strong.

2.      The most promising method of securing a virtuous people is to elect virtuous leaders.

3.      Without religion the government of a free people cannot be maintained

4.      The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things.

5.      The highest level of prosperity occurs when there is a free-market economy and a minimum of government regulations

I’m a traditionalist.  I believe greatly in the principles the founding fathers espoused.  Re-read those 5 principles, then step back and look at what is happening around you.  Has there ever been greater prophetic verbiage?  Each and every one of those has been compromised.  The results are obvious.  Let us take a second to define the term principle; a fundamental truth that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.  I believe the most important word in that definition is “truth”.  Further, I believe that truth to be unchanging.  While reading about the history of this nation, it is overwhelmingly apparent that one of the biggest concerns written in to our founding documents was the degradation of people’s beliefs and values.  Those fears and concerns litter our lives every day.  We are constantly being deluged with immorality, attempting to redirect our vector as a nation; to pull us away from the moral principles upon which we were built.  The more this country strays from God and continues to eliminate the need to teach all new generations about the basic foundation of this country, the precepts behind the Revolutionary War, and the vision of our founding fathers, the more vulnerable we become.  Oh, you don’t believe in God?  That’s fine, and it’s certainly your prerogative.  That doesn’t mean he doesn’t exist or didn’t have influence upon our founding fathers.  It simply means you don’t believe it.  You can believe 2 + 2 = 5 if you want…similarly, you would still be wrong.  Regardless of what you believe, there is a basic fundamental truth behind the principles of our nation’s doctrine.  And frankly, if you don’t like that, or don’t want to support that, I would invite you to leave.  There are plenty of countries out there that would welcome your progressive ignorance.

In summation: 

- I believe in the country our founding fathers envisioned 240 years ago.   
- I believe in the constitution as it was written, and for the reasons it was written.    
- I believe with all fervency, the principles upon which this nation was founded.  
- I believe the American Dream exists.  
- I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.   
- I believe happiness is earned through its pursuit, and is not a handout.
- I believe you can achieve anything you want in this life if you are willing to actively pursue it.  
- I believe we are all equal at the starting line, and whether we are all equal at the finish line is a matter of effort and decisions made.  It is NOT the government's responsibility to equalize....it is YOURS.  If you don't like where you are in life, then do something about it.

- I believe the push toward socialism is creating a lazy, idolatrous people that are beginning to ruin our country as they stand with hands out, expecting to be taken care of. 
- I believe there is a socialistic country waiting with open arms, willing to accept those unwilling to live by the fundamental basics of our constitution. 
-I believe I have a right to protect myself and my family by any and all means possible.

- I believe in helping those unable to help themselves. 
- I believe people who stomp on the American flag should be shot. 
- I believe that continuing to force God out of this nation will cause irreparable damage. 

  - I believe it imperative to instill in our children a love of country, a solid understanding of our heritage, and a firm foundation upon which to build their patriotism and vector their moral compass.   
- I believe that if you choose to immigrate to this country you should be required to know, understand, and live The Pledge of Allegiance.  I believe it should be recited every single day in every publicly funded school across the nation.

- I believe we should welcome with open arms those that are willing to come to the US, hold fast to our principles and heritage, and pursue a better life.  This is America.  If you want to be here, embrace it.  If you are unwilling to do that, go elsewhere.   
-I believe no greater service can be performed than that which is dedicated to the benefit of others.  Regardless of your beliefs, I have made the decision that I am willing to die for the country that allows you to have them.  I do so whether I agree with your beliefs or not.  Other than my children, nothing in this world makes me as proud as wearing this uniform every day, and fighting for what I believe in.  I have sworn under oath to support and defend the Constitution at limitless cost.
- I believe if war came to this country and you are unwilling to take up arms and defend it with your life, you should live in a country not worth dying for.

If you are offended, it's likely because you believe in things other than what our founding fathers believed in.  I am not sorry.  I do not apologize for the offense you have taken.  I do not apologize for standing on firm foundations and defending what I know to be true.  Muhammad Ali said it best, "I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be."

know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.htm

I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want. Muhammad Ali
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/muhammad_ali.html

- I believe in this country, MY country.

"Happy" Father's Day

I'm not really sure where to start with this one.  There's a lot of emotions for me that infiltrate this day.  I'm over 7,000 miles from my own children, and the loss of my father just 2 years ago is ever-present.  And how does one navigate explaining his feelings about what it means to be a dad?  Do those feelings even have words adequate of their description, or would trying to apply language to feelings be a disservice.  If I had that answer, I'd be writing books instead of hanging out in Baghdad.














As a child, and under normal circumstances, the definition of love is what you feel for your parents.  But the second you hold your own child, and witness the miracle of creation, is the moment love is truly defined.  As I explained in my last blog post, that day for me is a day I will never forget.  When you become willing to give your life, to do anything required to protect and bring happiness to the life of another, that is the point when you truly understand what it means to love.  A very popular book once touched on that concept, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".

I cannot explain what it is I feel for my kids.  They are the reason for my existence, the reason I have for waking everyday.  I would do anything for them.  They are each phenomenal in their own way.  Individually, they bring a light to my life that I could not find elsewhere.  The conglomeration of their unique qualities is more than I could have ever imagined.  Each is perfect....and together......well.....their impact in my life is infinite.  There is no greater calling on this earth than that of parenthood.

The rest of this entry is my speech from my dad's funeral. I still live with a tremendous amount of anger knowing God took my dad from me. Not withstanding, this pretty much sums up what being a father means to me.  If I'm only ever half the father he was, I'll be twice what I am.

As I considered what I wanted to share with everybody today, many thoughts crossed my mind. Ultimately, the final decision rested upon one simple question, “what would my father want me to say”? Hands down, he was the most humble man I have ever known. Incorporating that fact into my decision led me to what I have written down on this sheet of paper today. Ironically enough, we are here to talk about him, yet he wouldn’t want me to stand up here and do that. My goal this morning is to stand vicariously in his stead, and attempt to share with you the same things I think he would share.

Last June, my dad was first diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lungs. In very short time, his health began to quickly deteriorate. Thinking the end might have drawn nigh very quickly, I ventured back from Wyoming for what could have potentially been our last time together. I vividly remember one of the first conversations upon my return. As we sat in the living room, one of my children ventured upstairs. As dad watched their little legs traverse the wooden structure, I could see the tears well up in his eyes. I reached over and clasped his hand. Refusing to show me the weakness in his tears, he turned his face from me and began to speak. “I’m not afraid of pain or death….I’m afraid of what I’m leaving behind”, he said. With as much wisdom as a son could offer a father, I assured him that everything would be okay. I spoke to him not of the people that would be left behind, nor of this being the end of anything, but of the legacy that he began.

Not sure if you all noticed or not, but the Bucy family just so happens to be fanatical Green Bay Packer fans. That passion was instilled in us by my father. He exemplified countless characteristics of the most famed coach in NFL history, Vince Lombardi. I wanted to touch on a few of them today in hopes that dad’s character will not only have had an impact on us as his family, but will also inspire you all to be everything you are capable of being.

I was raised to believe that nothing less than perfection was acceptable. When I say “perfection” I don’t speak of flawless execution, but of exactness in effort. We cannot always control the outcome of events, but what we can control is our input. Coach Lombardi once gave a speech entitled, “What It Takes To Be Number One”, which just so happens to be my favorite of all time. In it he states, “Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing. Every time a football player goes to ply his trade he's got to play from the ground up - from the soles of his feet right up to his head. Every inch of him has to play. Some guys play with their heads. That's O.K. You've got to be smart to be number one in any business. But more importantly, you've got to play with your heart, with every fiber of your body. If you're lucky enough to find a guy with a lot of head and a lot of heart, he's never going to come off the field second.”(end quote).

I want to touch on 4 distinct topics that come to mind with regards to my father; character, commitment, integrity, and perfection. I’ll begin with character.

Character
One of dad’s favorite sayings is, “Remember who you are and where you came from”. The word “character is derived from ancient words that mean “engraved” and “inscribed”. These etymological roots imply something of deep importance. Character is written, inscribed, and engraved all over each of us. Everyone has character but not everyone is “OF” character. Character is founded on unchanging principles. It is our underlying core. It has unspoken power, it is solid and resolute….it doesn’t blink. It is not something that is handed to us, but must be forged though years of hard work and discipline. It is the culmination of years of choosing to act one way rather than another, of choosing truth over deception, respect over arrogance, compassion over cruelty. I have yet to meet another man “of” such great character.

Commitment
Whatever activities any of us kids decided to pursue (within the bounds of morality and legality of course), we were fully supported in. That said, we also understood dad’s expectation of complete devotion to the task at hand. He made sure we understood that total commitment meant accepting sacrifice, suffering, hard work and dedication - in other words, whatever it took. There was no loafing, goofing off, idiling, or phoning in sick. We were to give 100% effort 100% of the time and to inspire those around us with our own level commitment. Coach Lombardi once said, “I would say that the quality of each man’s life is the full measure of that man’s commitment to excellence”. (end quote)

Integrity
By definition, integrity is the manifestation of an unshakable set of principles – principles that you will not violate under any circumstance. My father always taught us that integrity was the only option. One reason he was able to encourage such effort was that he understood that he was making an even greater effort. He always lead with integrity, demonstrating the same commitment he expected of us. Dad had an intangible ability to impress who and what he was, on the people around him. That meant he did what was right. He did what he said. He conformed to the values he espoused. His behavior was predictable, because he was consistent in his choices and his actions.

Chasing Perfection
As I mentioned earlier, perfecting individual effort was the standard. If anything was worth doing, it was worth doing right. Dad always encouraged us to reach beyond what we believed was possible. Though perfection may have been unattainable, encouraging us to only set the highest standards allowed us to surpass our own preconceived limitations. This level of excellence is achieved by the relentless pursuit of perfection. Again quoting Coach Lombardi, “If you settle for nothing less than the best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your life.

While I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013, I penned the following regarding my father on Father’s Day, “He is a stoic man....a man whose emotions remain undisclosed until he deems necessary. He is a man with hands of steel......a man whose touch for his daughter and grandchildren is soft as velvet. He is a man of great faith....a man who has made countless promises to the Lord on his family's behalf. He is a man of virtue....a man who stands for truth and righteousness at all times, in all things, and in all places. He is a man with an unbreakable heart....a man whose unbreakable heart I've broken. He is a man of great work ethic and dedication....a man whose hands of steel have been forged by the sweat of his brow. He is a man of order....a man who dedicates his life to his family, religion, and the Green Bay Packers...in that order. He is a man who leads by example....a man whose example I could follow and still only become half the man he is. He is a man of few words....a man whose message is not delivered verbally, but is communicated through his character. He is a man.....a man who has an undying love for my mother. He is a man....a man whom I am proud to call MY father.

In 2014, after a 7-year battle with cancer, long time ESPN broadcaster Stuart Scott succumbed to the disease. During his speech at the Espy Awards, he said, "When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, then lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you.” "Today, we choose not to say Ed lost to cancer at the age of 59…..instead we'll simply say that we all lost Ed."

In closing I want to leave you with the last paragraph of Coach Lombardi’s speech. He finishes with this thought…..“I don't say these things because I believe in the ‘brute' nature of men or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man's finest hour -- his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear -- is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

On This Day, 11 Years Ago, I Became a Dad

11 years ago today, I became the proudest man there ever was, as this amazing young man made me a father. On this day, I celebrate him.  If I could go back in time and tell me to do one thing different on that day, it would be to have journaled the thoughts and feelings I experienced.  As I sit here and reminisce from over 7,000 miles away, I possess not the words to express the love I feel for this boy.  What an incredible soul he is.

On that day, not only did I become a father, but my dad became a grandfather, and my mom a grandmother.  As of today, he is the only one in the family that can carry on our last name.....unless my brothers.....well....never mind.  That would mean Tyler has to be a dad, and I'm not sure the world is ready for that.

I remember the day we let my parents know.  We imbedded their Christmas presents with indicators to see if they would catch on.   They opened them at the same time.  Dad got a shirt that said "Super Grandpa", and mom got a personally decorated coffee mug that said "World's Best Gma".  Wendy and I were full of anxious energy as they studied their gifts and simply couldn't put 2 and 2 together.  Mom thought the print on the cup was an error, but didn't have the heart to tell us we messed up and wrote Gma instead of mom.  Dad, in all of his coolness just said thanks and set it aside.  They still had no idea.  We let it slide for the next few minutes.  My sister, Megan, knew right away, but kept silent.  Eventually, I asked mom if she read what the cup said, to which she replied, "yeah, but shouldn't it say World's Best Mom"?  When I said "no", it finally clicked.  Dad jumped out of his chair shook my hand, we embraced, and he congratulated us.  It was a moment I will never forget.

As I peruse these photos of Mikey with my dad, I'm reminded of everything I need to be as a father.  This man loved his grandchildren above all except his wife.  Every time we came to visit, you could see his countenance shine with joy and pride.  

Invariably, the most important thing he taught Michael was to love the Green Bay Packers.  For his first Father's Day as a grandpa, we bought him a brick that now lays in the sidewalk surrounding Lambeau Field.  It reads, "Happy Father's Day to an New Grandpa.  Ed Bucy 2005"  And how fitting it was that when I took Michael to his first Packers game last year, he was the one who found the brick.....the boy who made my dad a grandfather.  The bond between those 2 was special.  No other kid would be his first grandchild.

I don't even know where to start with this kid.  He is a perfect compilation of both Wendy and I, effectively getting the best parts of both of us.  I've never crossed a kid his age with his level of intelligence.  He consistently outpaces his entire peer group.  This past year when his class would play math games, his teacher would purposely make him sit out so other kids stood a chance.  But it's not only math he excels at....it's every single academic discipline.  I'd like to think those abilities are a conglomeration of both gene pools.   Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit.






He loves his aunts and uncles.  Once again, he was the pioneer on both sides of the family for making them such.  I'm limited on what photos I have here in Iraq so can only add those that I have.  Suffice it to say they love him too.  Skip Neil, Looney Meg, and Gay Tyler.....don't ask, just roll with it.

Much like me, Michael LOVES all things outdoors.  If it were his choice, we'd be camping and riding dirt bikes every day.  There are few things in life he loves to do as much as come to dad's house where we're surrounded by nature, the smell of 2-stroke and 4-stroke exhaust, chainsaws, power tools, big trucks, guns, golf, and his bow and arrows.  Long after his sisters park their bikes, he'll spend hours ripping up the track around my house.  We love to chase each other through the pasture and trees.  From the first days I could safely get him on  dirt bike he was being prepped for a life long skill that very few people will ever cultivate.  

Mikey's love for sports is a love also derived from both gene pools.  I marvel at his drive and determination at such a young age, to not only be the absolute best he can be, but also better than his teammates and opponents.  However, there are other attributes this kid possesses that I simply cannot take credit for.  The incredible imagination he has, and his ability to think outside binary code and black/white only, definitely do not come from me.  I guarantee this kid has read more books in one year than I have read my entire life.  Wendy has taught each of our children creativity and a love for reading.  Any free time he has (without electronic media) will usually be spent with his nose is some fantasy novel like Lord of the Rings, Fablehaven, Percy Jackson, or Harry Potter.  There is no doubt that his love for reading has helped propel his educational development.  I take no credit for any of that.

The gist of all this is, I couldn't be more proud of this little man.  Everyday I wake, he inspires me to be a better person, man, and father.   The reality is I am a blessed man to have him as my son.  While I've not been a model dad, and have oft times fallen short of my duties as a father, I strive everyday to be the best for him and his sisters that I can be.  I've only gone through half a box of Kleenex as I look through these pictures of him with my dad, and think about how I can't be with him to celebrate his day today.  Michael B, know that I love you brother bear, and that you bring a tremendous light to my life.  A particular light that only you can bring.  I love the times we get to spend together.  I love the way you love your sisters and the desire you have to do good in this life.  I admire your heart and drive to serve others.  I hope to be the father to you that Grandpa Ed was to me.  I hope you look to me for inspiration and you seek me out for counsel when you need it.  While not always physically at your side, I will be there for you whenever you need me.  B.....I love you.

More pics just for good measure