I haven’t posted in a while, partly because of some traveling I’ve been doing.  But in the process of those travels I have found myself several times in the company of patriots.

             My first stop was in Boston, “ground zero” for the American Revolution and the birthplace of the United States of America and the freedoms we enjoy today.  I was in Boston on business, but arrived early and went out for a walk after checking into my hotel.  I had been to Boston once before, but as it was also on business, I had not really had much of a chance to sightsee.  So I headed out on a sunny fall afternoon and pointed myself in the general direction of Boston Common.

             The Common was packed with people out enjoying the afternoon, so after a walk around the park I turned in the direction of Fanueil Hall.  My route took me past a cemetery surrounded by an iron fence.  I didn’t even know what it was at first; I just saw what was obviously a very old cemetery with a lot of tourists walking around.  But being a bit of a history geek, I had to check it out, so I walked through the open gate and into the resting place of some real patriots.

             I was quickly educated by signage in the cemetery, which informed me that I was in the Granary Burying Ground, founded in 1660.  As I followed the path to the right, I was soon looking at a tombstone which marked the common grave of five of the victims of the Boston Massacre, including the most well-known, Crispus Attucks.  Right next to it was the grave of none other than Sam Adams, statesman, organizer of the Revolution, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

             I continued through the cemetery to find the graves of other notable patriots Paul Revere and John Hancock.  As the cool autumn breeze sent a few leaves scraping down the path ahead of me, I was struck by the reality of where I was and what I was doing.  I was walking among the graves of men who had passed over 200 years ago, and feeling a bit awed by the whole thing.  These were patriots who risked it all to establish a free nation.

             Precisely a week later I found myself in Washington, D.C., running in the 23^rd edition of the Army 10-Miler, and once again in the company of patriots.  Somewhere in the neighborhood of 17, 000 patriots were gathered not just to test themselves on the ten mile course through the nation’s capital, but also to pay tribute to the American soldier.  While there was obviously no shortage of patriots on the course, I passed one whose patriotism and sacrifice were instantly observable and worthy of honor.  Let me admit here that I wasn’t really in shape for this run, and while I was getting through, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  But when I saw this soldier who was gutting it out on two prosthetic legs…well, to say that I was humbled would be understating it in the biggest way.  I made a quick apology to God for my self-pity, a prayer for this young man’s continued recovery, and thanks that we still have such patriots today.

             The next day, while waiting for my flight out of the Baltimore airport, a flight arrived at an adjacent gate and about a dozen uniformed soldiers got off.  I didn’t notice at first, as it was a little farther down the terminal, but I heard a few hands clapping and looked up from my book.  As the soldiers came into the terminal, the applause became greater and greater, and as the soldiers approached I joined in the crowd of people who stood and applauded these heroes.  It was quite a thing to witness.  As the group of soldiers proceeded through the building, the applause followed like a wave.  It would fade as they passed one group of people, only to rise as they approached another, following them all the way down the wing.  More patriots.

             What a week it turned out to be, as I found myself in the company of patriots, past and present, wherever I went.  They are all around us, if you look.  You may even spot one in your mirror.  You don’t have to put on a uniform and go to war (though that may be your calling), but you can still be a patriot by supporting those who do.  If you see a soldier, tell them thanks.  Send a care package or a phone card overseas.  Educate yourself and vote for candidates who will do right by them.  Be there for them like they’ve been there for us for over 200 years, and then if we’re lucky we will always be in the company of patriots.