If you close your eyes
and keep your fingers crossed, Memorial Day will be here before you know it.
The day is intended to honor the men and women who died in our nation’s wars.
For most of us May 28 will involve parades, barbeques and perhaps briefly
thinking about all deceased veterans whether they died on active service or
long after their uniforms were put aside.
There are a handful of
stories about how Memorial Day came to be, just as there are various cities
around this land claiming honor as the site of its origination. The most widely
accepted version however credits the ladies of the South who started to
decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in The War
Between the States, our own Civil War. Many people confuse the purpose of
Memorial Day with that of Veterans Day. The latter was originally “Armistice
Day” commemorating the end of hostilities (1914-1918) between the Allied Forces
and the Imperial forces of Germany during ”The War to End All Wars”. Of course
it wasn’t really a war to end all wars because two decades later we had that
much larger and bloodier conflict we now call “World War II”. Then there was
Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan and who knows what will be
next? Our young men and women will ever
be in uniform manning the walls and protecting those of us at home.
As most of you know
the Supreme Court of the United States has upheld the right of anti-war
protestors to show up at funerals with signs to celebrate the deaths of fallen
warriors even as service members are being laid to rest eternal. The hurt of
such demonstrations has been subordinated to protecting the right of free
speech. I understand free speech and how important it is in a democracy; indeed
I express my own opinion in this blog site every time I write a post. What I do
not understand is the desecration of any person’s memory during holy
final moments, particularly one who has given his/her life for our country. As
for the few who choose to interrupt and celebrate the death of a service
person, my editor will not permit me to use such words in this forum.
The legendary
General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur, is remembered for many contributions
over his long and distinguished military career but none more so than when he
said “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” With respects to the
general, old soldiers do die and in 2011 we lost the last of them from World
War I. His name was Frank Buckles and he served as a corporal and ambulance
driver in France. He was 110 years old.
On this
coming Memorial Day and on all other days of the year for that matter, don’t
forget to remember the valiant men and women of our Armed Forces. As a matter
of fact you don’t have to wait until May 28. Whenever you see a man or woman in
military uniform, personally thank him or her for their service. I guarantee
you that they will appreciate your doing so.
