南达科他州州长 Rhoden 发表退伍军人节专栏：家族三代从军，本人曾在国民警卫队服役六年
南达科他州州长 Larry Rhoden 11月13日在州府 Pierre 发表退伍军人节专栏《Serving with Purpose》（以使命感服役）。Pierre 位于南达科他州休斯县，是该州州政府所在地。Rhoden 在文中回顾了自己家族从独立战争至今的从军传统，称本周的退伍军人节不只是道一声感谢，更是提醒每一代人继续扛起保卫自由的责任。
Rhoden 写道，美国在250年前的一场战争中诞生，约有23万美国人在独立战争中服役，约2.5万人牺牲。法国的拉法叶将军曾率部来援，他的曾曾曾祖父与四位兄弟就在其中，最终只有曾曾曾祖父一人活了下来，四位兄弟都没能回来。
此后每一代家人都有人穿上军装。他的祖父参加第一次世界大战，参加过默兹-阿尔贡攻势；他的父亲参加第二次世界大战，参加过突出部战役；他的兄长参加过越南战争。
Rhoden 在专栏中全文引用了军人入伍誓词，并写道，自己多年前也宣过同样的誓，此后追随家族的从军传统，在国民警卫队服役六年。他的儿子 Cody 同样宣过誓，并曾驾驶黑鹰直升机服役。
如今，Rhoden 以州长和南达科他州国民警卫队总司令的身份继续履行这一使命。他写道，自己作为州长的使命之一，就是让南达科他州保持强大、安全和自由。
专栏结尾，他引里根总统的话说，每一代美国人都有责任把自由传递下去，并呼吁读者在建国250周年之际，多花一点时间感谢穿军装的男女军人，也不要忘记自己同样负有保卫自由的责任。
（来源：南达科他州州长办公室）
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden Marks Veterans Day in Column Tracing His Family's Generations of Service
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden published a Veterans Day column, "Serving with Purpose," on November 13 in Pierre, the state capital. Pierre is in Hughes County, South Dakota. In the column, Rhoden traced his family's tradition of military service from the Revolutionary War to today, saying Veterans Day is about more than saying thank you, and is a reminder that each generation must carry freedom forward.
Rhoden wrote that the United States was founded 250 years ago in the midst of a war, that about 230,000 Americans served in that war, and that about 25,000 of them died. General Lafayette brought a contingent from France to help, and Rhoden's great-great-great grandfather and his four brothers were with them. His ancestor survived; his four brothers did not.
Later generations of the family also served. His grandfather fought in World War I, including at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. His father fought in World War II, including at the Battle of the Bulge. His brother fought in Vietnam.
Rhoden included the full text of the enlistment oath in the column and wrote that he swore that same oath years ago, then followed his family's tradition by serving six years in the National Guard. His son, Cody, also swore the oath and flew Blackhawk helicopters.
Today Rhoden serves as Governor and Commander in Chief of the South Dakota National Guard. He wrote that keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free is a key component of his mission as Governor.
He closed by citing President Reagan's challenge that each generation of Americans has a responsibility to carry freedom forward, and urged readers, as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, to take an extra moment to thank the men and women in uniform and to remember their own responsibility to defend American freedom.
(Source: Office of the Governor of South Dakota)
来源：南达科他州州长办公室
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：南达科他州议会大厦（Pierre）。WeaponizingArchitecture 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. By WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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