On a day when we reflect on the souls we have lost war, attention also given to the surviving soldiers and marines who still grace our presence. Most notable among our surviving veterans is Frank Buckles, our last World War I veteran, at the age of 109.
But if today is a day of refection and recognition, let’s not look just to the past, but to the future and reflect on our national responsibility. In 2076 our country will be celebrating its Tricentennial. I and many other readers will be dead by then, but many of the 20 year old marines and soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan today will be turing 86 and if some are blessed with the health of Mr. Buckles, the last surviving veteran of our current conflicts could very likely live past the year 2100 (this of course assumes we end these conflicts in the near future.)
So on Memorial Day 2010 we span the lives of veterans over a 200 year period, from 1901, when Frank Buckle was born, to the last living Iraq/Afghanistan veteran dies, which quite possibly could be in the year 2101.
From this perspective, the last one hundred years does not bode well for the survivors of our current conflicts over the next 100 years. From the WWI veterans marching on Washington DC in the 30’s seeking assistance to the denial of Agent Orange and Gulf War toxic exposures to a backlog of nearly 1 million VA claims still pending, there is a gaping void between our words that honor those who died in the service of their country and our deeds in providing support to combat veterans.
This history is worthy of reflection on Memorial Day, 2010.