Memorial Day Musings...
This is one of THOSE days where I dig out the old soapbox and get a bit "preachy", so bear with me...
BTW, yesterday was the TRADITIONAL MEMORIAL DAY...TODAY is the date we "celebrate it", just so we're clear.
I know it SEEMED like it was yesterday, and for some reason, I don't know why.
It just pans out that way...must have been all those "sales" distracting us.
Anyway, TODAY is NOT about sales...
And if you feel the desire to put on an orchestral version of America the Beautiful, or Battle Hymn of the Republic...go right ahead.
This weekend (and especially today) is about ONE thing primarily...everything else is fol-de-rol.
It's about REMEMBRANCE of those in our armed services who have seen fit to give something back to their country for all that they (read WE) enjoy. Many have even given that "last full measure of devotion" (as Lincoln remarked during his Gettysburg Address). They have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy (with our oft times cavalier sense of nonchalance).
They are doing the RIGHT THING...for the RIGHT REASON.
THEY are the reason we have "a day off"....a day to "barbecue"..a day to "do nothing".
And during all of our "extracurricular activities", how often do we stop for even a moment to acknowledge THEIR patriotism, THEIR sacrifices, THEIR willingness to do what NEEDS to be done in the protection of our freedoms?
Those who at least display our nation's flag are doing more than most.
Check out this link:
http://www.usmemorialday.org/
I recall a time when a Memorial Day parade in downtown Philly was THE ONLY place to be. Families would gather together, waving small flags as representatives from every armed service marched by. Tanks rumbled along the Ben Franklin Parkway past the Art Museum...trucks, jeeps and color guards passed while the throngs cheered, saluted, placed their hands over their hearts, or even wept for what these brave men and women represented to each of US. They were as much the symbol of liberty and freedom as our flag.
I never forgot that.
Air stations and local bases had "open houses" where you could get up close and personal with the machines and personnel attached to our armed services. We even saw the Navy's Blue Angels and Air Force's Thunderbirds on those dates. Many of those bases I attended are now closed...part of the budget cuts that swept through the military during the 80s and 90s.
Today, I don't see as much in the way of those parades of years gone by. We might have a few small units that are locally stationed march by in some microcosmic version of what we USED to look forward to. I don't even see air shows at local airports all that much. The last show that Fort Wayne had, I attended was back in 1999 - ELEVEN years ago. Nothing since. Maybe a "warbird" or two dropping by for a few days, giving rides as a way to maintain these historic planes...that's it.
We still see veteran organizations or scout troops placing flags on service men and women grave sites in our cemeteries...at least THAT hasn't fallen out of "vogue". If you ever get a chance to go to Arlington National Cemetery, you'll get a chance to see HOW it's done. It's something that will bring a lump to your throat. There is that somber type of dignity shown wherever you go there. That is patriotism in a most demonstrative form.
We still see the occasional honor guards at cemeteries firing off volleys to recognize those that have passed on, or as we always liked to say, "Still on Patrol".
New York has "FLEET WEEK", where military personnel spend some much needed liberty, and during the Army-Navy game (when it used to be played in Philly), we had something much similar. It's nice to buddy up with a grunt or a squid at a local bar, and share a brew and some tales.
And of course Washington D.C. is replete with ceremonies to commemorate those who serve and have served. And it's times like that you get that sense of honor, dignity, and duty to one's country.
Used to be a time (during WWII) when ANY military personnel never had want for ANYTHING while staying in some city, awaiting deployment or attending a specialist school...the people bought them drinks, or dinner...and some even invited them HOME for a meal or a place to stay for the night. Of course, that was a time when we held our military personnel in a lot higher esteem than we (apparently) do today (fortunately, we ARE seeing a turnaround in that regard).

And they didn't have to be a family member to qualify....they were there (in whatever foreign nation) to fight for OUR freedoms against tyranny.
That was good enough for us.
What these brave souls do (and have done) is not about politics...it's about defending freedom and liberty for Americans and for ALL people, everywhere.
Today, it's all about getting the troops home, and while that IS a primary concern, we should at least have the fortitude to support a stance of VICTORY, instead of "cutting one's losses" and bugging the hell out. I never met any winner in a fight that had his "tail tucked neatly between his legs". You'd have thought we'd have learned that lesson all too well.
In Vietnam, armed forces WON EVERY MAJOR ENGAGEMENT...that's 100% victory, but does history label us the victors over there? Well, we DID get out (after over 52 thousand troops were killed), but it was nowhere close to the victory we had in WWII, which my father referred to as "The Last Popular War". Our returning troops from 'Nam were labelled "baby killers" and were treated less than noble for no other reason than the fact that they wore a uniform and served (with honor) this great nation of ours. War has become too close a bedfellow to politics these days.
Our pathetic attention spans (today) demand we "win" within the first several days (or even weeks), or else we're just "not interested" any longer, and move along to other things. That is not the mindset of anyone wanting to win against something as insidious as global terrorism. It didn't work with Nazism...or fascism, or even communism...so why should this be any different?
The media latches onto this, runs with it, and spins it any which way in order to keep viewership up...screw how the troops really feel about winning this conflict...screw those that support the troops, and screw those that think we need to win every war against terrorism both here and abroad. We decry the fact that over 4400 troops have been killed in Iraq (1080+ in Afghanistan) to date while more than TWICE that number died in ONE day (June 6, 1944), when we thought it noble and necessary to beat back and defeat the axis forces.
We NEED a revival of duty and honor.
We NEED it right now.
And we NEED it BAD.
It's a WAKE UP CALL, plain and simple.
It's a day where we MEMORIALIZE those who have sacrificed much for the greater good of every citizen of these United States of America since we became a nation, therefore we take time to offer our thanks to those in military service, or who have served, and acknowledge their dedication to that flag...that Constitution...that country they chose to defend with honor, dignity, and pride.
But it's so much MORE than just that.
Doesn't matter if they were at Bunker Hill, Yorktown, Shiloh, Gettysburg, San Juan Hill, Belleau Wood, Bastogne, Tarawa, Pork Chop Hill, Khe Sahn, La Drang, Grenada, Kabul or Baghdad. What DOES matter is they were defending AMERICA and WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
THAT is what is worthy of remembrance.
The Old Guard has been placing flags on EVERY gravestone at Arlington, as they do every year, and as they silently pass the over tens of thousands of markers, you cannot help but be humbled by the personal acts so many of these people did that allowed this country to survive.
And it's with that thought, that we DO take pause and remember ALL those that served, and have fallen.
The brave men and women who fought for democracy, freedom and liberty, as ambassadors of America in whatever country they were sent, deserve our praise...and our thanks.
So, we take one day of our year to do so.
Yet, I would be remiss, if I did NOT mention that everything these people in uniform do FOR the rest of us doesn't merely occur on ONE day, in the manner we remember them.
They are on station every hour of every day of every year, ensuring that OUR freedoms remain intact.
Yet we take ONE day to bow our heads in quiet thanks.
Seems like not much of a fair trade, does it? We, as American citizens can do more.
We can remember them ALL the time.
We can...and should.
This can also be a day in which we remember all those in the fire departments and law-enforcement, that fight the good fight on our home front.They serve this nation JUST as well, and with like dedication...and many of THEM have also been in military service.
Memorial Day IS a day to remember...
It's a time to remember who WE are (as a a nation), what WE stand for, and where WE are destined to be.
It's a time to fly the flag proudly, no matter how bad the politics are in the nation.
That tri-colored cloth should mean MORE to any real American than any member of any political party...or city, state. or federal government civil SERVANT.
It's OUR rallying cry for remembrance.
Seeing that flag waving on that flagpole and the National Anthem should STILL stir the heart of every man, woman, and child who truly BELIEVES in this country, and what it stands for, as the founding fathers knew.
We are a great nation, made up of people from all walks of life, religions, nationalities and races, and YET...we come together to embrace ONE, UNIFYING PRINCIPLE:
That we ALL answer to a higher authority, and that we are bound, as AMERICANS to uphold those values and rights laid down by our founding documents.
We might ALL not wear a uniform or serve in any military or civil agency, but we ALL have a commitment to this nation as her citizens. It was the PEOPLE, great and small that created this country, and like people fighting for her liberties through it's inception to today. And we are still fighting.
And we shall prevail...this nation shall prevail.
It's Memorial Day.
A time to reflect...to remember...and be proud that so many gave that you might enjoy that next breath of freedom as you greet every day. To do less is simply not "American".
So, as today unfolds before us, take some time to remember those that have served (and died) in our military. THEY made it all possible for YOU to enjoy your brews, your barbecues, and your "day off".
If you have a Vet or current member of the armed services in your family (or even know of one or meet one in your travels)...make today THEIR day more than yours.
They have EARNED it...in so many ways...AND...they are DESERVING of it.
Be well, make a difference today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.