There are many beginnings of this day, In Charleston, S.C. the freed slaves re interred the remains of Union soldiers, who fought to liberate them, and created a Union cemetery to remember them, for their sacrifices. In Columbus Mississippi, widows of the Confederacy decorated, not only the graves of their husbands or loved ones, but also the graves of those on the Union, in respect to the widows and mothers of the North who could not come down from such a long distance. In Waterloo,NY a retired general wanted to insure that those men on both sides of the conflict, that great national tragedy, were never forgotten. The day started small, some communities would rather forget the horrors of that War between the States, others wanted to celebrate some other days, to separate themselves from the nation, still in bitter memory. But the day grew, as more wars were to be fought, in the future of the nation.
A day was to be reserved nationally to remember those who fell in battles near and far from Argonne Forest to the mountains of Afghanistan
To many, today is the day of rest relaxation, picnics in the park, the games to be played in the stadium, for businesses that are open, the last day of the big sale. It is the start of the summer holiday season. But for others, the dwindling few of past wars, the small number growing in today's it is a day of remembrance. It is a day where those who should of lived their lives to the longest of days fell in the many battles that we have fought.
They should be in the twilight of their days, spending with their loving spouse of many years, they should be at this time, enjoying their grandchildren or their great grandchildren. Others at least, should be entering middle age or at the end of a successful career, military or civilian. And those who are at the start of a military career, or serving a few years then going on to college or what endeavors they have planned.
Every one of those who fell in battle, had dreams, had plans before and after the war. They were not cardboard figures or machines, whether they were drafted or volunteered, these men and women, mattered to those they loved. Many of those who fell were not in it for a chestful of medals, but just to do their duty and go home. These were not John Waynes or Rambos, but ordinary guys performing their duties, and in some instances dying to save their buddies in the heat of battle, so t least a few would get the chance to see their loved ones. No one in the military is itching to go out and fight, but once the call is made, they know and understand what is to be done to fulfill the mission given to them, whether on land , sea or air. The soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are sad when their friends and fellow buddies fall, but continue to carry out the mission knowing that fallen comrades would do the same in their place.
When an IGTNT diary is written, we see the man or woman behind the name, we see the athlete, student, a volunteer to his/her community, a musician. We also see the man or woman behind the name a husband, wife, father, mother, son daughter, sister, brother and a friend. No monument in city square or a wall of honor erected at the state capitol, tells you of these good people who chose to serve, without regret, who wanted to do something for their nation, you read of the smiles they brought to those who are suffering in the living hell of a warzone, especially the children. The sadness of those caught in the middle of carnage. The desire to come home and be with family and friends. No good citizen these people are not marble men, or a bronze tab attached to a bronze slab, they were people who walked amongst us and now as Edwin Stanton once spoke of Abraham Lincoln, belong to the ages.
America, these sons and daughters who fell in the various wars are yours. Honor them do not forget them, they came from all over your land, even beyond our borders, whether born in Georgia or Guam, lived in New Lexington, Ohio or New York City. Do not consign them to the mists of history, let the future generations know them, let their memory be a check against some future politician's plan to use war as a policy, force those in power that they better be in bitter earnestness if they want to use war as an answer to the conflicts that nations have with each other. Also let the memory of the fallen be used to remind all of us that war carries a high price to all that it touches from the refugees, and the innocent casualties who are caught in the middle, to the costs of rebuilding and repairing, that could have easily go to much better uses of the treasury, and to those left behind, the child with no memory of his/her parent, the widow/er who goes on without the Life partner, the parents who now have to bury their child.
In a couple hours I will head out to Tahoma National Cemetery, for the Memorial Day Ceremony. To hear the speeches and to watch the solemn pagentry. I am paying my respects to those who gave all the loved ones they left behind, I pray that one day war will be studied no more.
Salute...Taps!!!!