US Constitution - Oath of Office

Article II, Section 1, last paragraph, U.S. Constitution: Before he [President Elect] shall take the following Oath or Affirmation: -"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

We military types and others who serve in the government all take the oath of office when we enlist and each time we are promoted. Retired military service members are subject to recall to active duty by the Secretary of Defense under 10 U.S. Code, Section 688. So our oath and obligation live with us for the rest of lives.
The times in which the framers of the Constitution wrote out these requirements for oaths was a period when an oath was a very solemn and serious act. It was taken at face value that once given, an oath was binding and would be honored and respected.
Men and women have died and suffered honoring their oath or affirmation to their country. American citizens serving in the military and civil branches of the government who place their lives at risk and through their duties and service are responsible for the lives and welfare of others are legion in numbers. We absolutely count on them and expect them to live by the oath.
Everyone who gives their oath or affirmation is a part of an immense web of interconnecting and intersecting parts that must mesh and function to preserve the aspiration stated in the preamble of the Constitution: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,  provide for the common defense, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and out Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." 
 On January 20th the next President of the United States will be sworn in and the oath he swears to will signify that the weight of the office is on his shoulders. His performance as our President obligates him to hold true to the oath by serving the interests of all the people. He has never taken an oath like so many millions of us have over our country's history. This the first time he has probably ever been expected to serve anyone's best interest other than his own. I hope by taking the oath and realizing the immense responsibility and power he has been granted, that Donald J. Trump becomes a better man and human being that he has proven himself to be thus far. 


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