Celebrating hard-earned freedom every day

The era of the American Revolution spanned the years 1763 to 1789, according to the Encyclopedia of American History, revised and enlarged edition by former professor of history at Columbia University, Richard B. Morris, and consultant Henry Steele Commager. Yet most Americans pay little heed to the extended period of time it took to establish the United States of America whose birthday is celebrated on the 4th of July each year.

By the spring of 1776 sentiment for a break with Britain was clearly in the ascendant. Movement toward independence ramped up from April to July 1776. On April 12 the North Carolina Convention empowered its delegates in Congress to vote for a declaration of independence. Virginia followed suit May 15 and with this authorization Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution June 7 that the United Colonies “are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States,” said the Encyclopedia account.

While, after some debate it was decided to postpone a decision on the resolution until July 1, a committee consisting of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman was appointed to prepare a Declaration of Independence. On July 4 the amended Declaration of Independence was approved without dissent, New York again abstained, and was signed by John Hancock as president, and Charles Thomason as secretary before all members present put their lives on the line with signatures of support. Copies were prepared and dispatched to all the states, first publicly proclaimed in Philadelphia on July 8 and read before General George Washington and his troops in New York City the next day, the Encyclopedia said.

Lineage of modern families are recorded and maintained back to those historic days for the sacrifices made during those crucial years. The Burke family of New Iberia is one of them. The representatives now center around the Dracos Burke family, a unique breed of men and women.

Tracing Patriots in Time

Retired Colonel Dracos D. Burke enlisted in the Army Air Corps in the days leading up to World War II, during which time he was a bombardier and navigator. His brother Donald Burke also served in the infantry during those years. After the war, the newly formed Air Force sent Dracos Burke to the University of Denver Law School. Upon graduation he served in the Judge Advocate General in the Air Force where he served a total of 30 years. His last assignment was as the Staff Judge Advocate for the Strategic Air Command — during the Cold War. As a father, Dracos Burke set a good example through what he did and does and what he says, too, said his son Michael. “He’s straight forward,” he said.

The elder Burke lived in New Iberia growing up in the town where his mother and father married. After 30 years in the service Dracos Burke could have retired anywhere and done nothing, but instead went back to law school for a second time to learn the Napoleonic law of Louisiana. A short time in the private sector was enough so when an employment opportunity with the District Attorney’s office came along in New Iberia, he served in that capacity until his delayed retirement.

Following in his father’s military footsteps, the oldest of four boys, Michael Burke, decided to enlist in the US Army.

“I wanted to do my part and to save my brothers from having to go to Vietnam. But it didn’t work out that way,” Michael Burke said. “It was almost the opposite.”

Michael Burke didn’t go to Vietnam but instead served 28 years in active duty and the reserves but all stateside.

“It was challenging but I loved every minute of it and wouldn’t change a thing,” he said. “A lot of our good ethics we picked up from our dad.”

The older son can still wear the uniform in part due to his father’s imparted value for exercise. Into his 90s, Dracos Burke maintained a routine of 25 pushups a day. Teaching and administration became Michael’s civilian career, something that created special memories during his military career. While stationed in Omaha, Nebraska, his brother Patrick in Baton Rouge, the two found themselves in a rare opportunity to team teach at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

“I tell people I was raised in the Air Force but grew up in the Army,” said Patrick Burke who unlike his older brother served in Vietnam. “Did Michael tell you he is four years older than me but I out ranked him?”

Patrick Burke moved up in rank quickly because of hard work, dedication, earning the respect of men he commanded and served under starting with his commission as an infantry officer at 19. By 24 when he moved into the reserves, he was a Lieutenant Colonel.

“I enlisted. I didn’t think it was right for me to be in college with a deferment and someone else drafted in my place,” Patrick Burke said. “I dropped out of college to join. When I got back from Vietnam, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to live here or in Omaha.”

His father was living back in New Iberia at that time and driving back and forth testing the water for a permanent place to live, Patrick found the hospitality in New Iberia beat the hostility and protesting of the Mid-West and even closer.

“Even people in Lafayette, if they knew you were a veteran, wouldn’t rent to you,” Patrick Burke said. “It was all the negative press.”

The siblings don’t forget their other military brother, the late Alan Burke, the first US Marine in the family. He was a scout sniper who died as a result of Agent Orange poisoning used during the Vietnam conflict. His son Eric also served in the Marines for seven years and was in the first Gulf War and Africa.

The Next Generation

Other grandsons of Dracos Burke served in the military. For that matter, Dracos Burke’s granddaughter Nicole Burke, a child of the elder Patrick, also serves the public interest in the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s office. Michael’s son Patrick served for eight years in the US Navy on the destroyer Yorktown and achieved the rank of Petty Officer E-5.

A fourth son of Dracos Burke, Thomas, did not serve in the military but his son James Burke was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps and served overseas tours in Korea and Afghanistan promoted to Captain. James Burke was administered his oath of office by his uncle, retired Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Burke.

Patrick’s son Robert volunteered for the Army in 2010 and was trained as a paratrooper.  He was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Italy and deployed with them for 2 combat tours in Afghanistan and is now in the reserves. He also is following his father’s civilian career in the financial world.

“You can talk to someone older who’s been there before and they’ll tell you every deployment is different,” Robert Burke said. “You have different commanders, missions, but overall its the same — principles and morals are still the same.”

Robert Burke had a little advantage to his fellow soldiers. During the Vietnam years, his father kept a journal he passed along to his son so he would know what military life would be like.

“I kept a detailed diary and gave it to Robert before he went to Afghanistan. I wanted him to know what to expect the first time he was shot at,” said Patrick Burke. “The 10-second difference in reaction time can mean the difference between life and death. Knowing what to expect might make the difference.”

He also surprised his son the day Robert received the Combat Infantry Badge, an award given only to soldiers who serve in battle. When Robert received his on foreign soil, rather than a new one, he was given an obviously worn CIB. Knowing he would one day receive one, Patrick Burke had sent his CIB earned in Vietnam to his son’s commanding officer in advance. On the back was the date Patrick received it, 1970.

Because of the military, there is an unspoken tie that binds the Burke family of soldiers.

“We don’t talk about it a lot, it’s like he’s not only my son (Robert), he’s a comrade,” Patrick Burke said.

Between Colonel Dracos Burke, his sons and grandsons, their service exceeds 120 years in the military.

Celebrating Independence

The ability to trace family ties militarily back to the Revolutionary War brings a life of service that cannot be celebrated only one day a year. It is a lifestyle the men in the Burke family bear proudly.

“Without the military you have a country with no real borders. Someone has to be there to draw that line,” said Robert Burke. “The military is used (to establish) authority, otherwise everyone (other countries) will walk all over you (USA). For freedom you have to have a strong military. There are a lot of people who don’t understand there’s an obvious connection there.”

“They (soldiers) learn self-discipline, respect for others and the value of hard work. Unfortunately we don’t require that of people today. We give them food, places to live and medical care,” said Patrick Burke. “(In the military) the opportunities are endless. It’s like anything in life, its what you make of it. Once you have that experience and education, no one can take that away from you. It’s important.”

“The 4th of July is the day to celebrate freedom that was hard earned,” Michael Burke said. “A lot of our good ethics we picked up from our dad.”

“As a military person you can’t get too caught up in the politics either, you don’t have a choice. You just have to roll with it,” Robert said.

The US President is Commander in Chief. Congress allocates military spending and makes declarations of war. The voting booth is the only place of private decision for military personnel — civilians as well. Knowing why decisions were made to separate from the British establishing the United States and forming a more perfect union, through the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, are the only criteria that have held a growing nation together for more than 240 years. Patrick Burke has something to say about people who don’t take an active role in democracy of the republic.

“Don’t complain. Some people I’m glad they don’t vote,” he said.

Enjoy a time of family and reflection this week on the 4th of July — Happy Birthday, USA.