FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY

Today, rather than talk about rare books in the Bullis Collection, we're going to talk about a book that was published just one week ago today. The title is For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice.  Written by Howard Schultz, and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, the book celebrates "...the extraordinary courage, dedication, and sacrifice of this generation of American veterans on the battlefield and their equally valuable contributions on the home front." (from Amazon.com description)

How does this book connect to the Bullises?  The Bullis family  has a long and distinguished history of serving their country's military. Beginning with Philip Bullis, who served in Major Savage's Company during King Philip's War in 1675-1676; continuing with Charles Bullis who served in the Revolutionary War in the Vermont Militia; John Lapham Bullis, whose lengthy military career spanned the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish-American War; and Charlie Bullis, who served in World War I.

We could learn so much from these Bullis men, if we could sit down and talk to them on this Veterans Day, 2014. Unfortunately, that is not possible.

Fortunately,  we can read Schultz and Chandrasekaran's book and gain knowledge of and an enhanced appreciation for all of this country's citizens who have served us through their military careers. And we can look for ways to show that appreciation to each and every one of them for their valuable contributions to us individually and collectively.

(We think Nettie Bullis would approve.)