Alphecca

Memorial Day

Last Fall, I put up the following on Veteran's Day. I think it was a good post and so I'm repeating it now:

Always remember and honor our fallen heros.

From Arlington National Cemetery:

Government issued headstones.




Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, Amphitheater behind.




An aerial view of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, showing the Mall and Fountain in front of.



On the sloping land to the left are the headstones that memorialize those whose remains could not be recovered.

This is not a day for joy. It is not a day for a "Sale." It is or should be a solemn day where we remember those who have or are at this very moment serving our country. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms we continue to enjoy. May God bless them and may He comfort their families. May we all give thanks to them and always remember them on Veteran's Day, and every other day as well. Regardless of what you think of the merits of a particular war, these brave men and women chose to serve and protect and defend all of us. There are many more young servicemen and women buried elsewhere in this great country of ours, and overseas. There are also many still who are alive but living in poverty or lanquishing in our underfunded Veteran's Hospitals. Whatever your views on conflict, know that all who served in our Armed Forces deserve respect, honor, and a "thank you."

Photos from Arlington Cemetery.org

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Update 5/30/04:

Here is a beautiful nighttime illustration by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell of the World War II Memorial taken from the Department of Defense web site:

Folks, it's very easy to debate the merits of various conflicts that our great country has been involved in, though I really don't see how anyone could argue that after Pearl Harbor, much less the atrocities of Hitler's war, we could not become involved in World War II. Indeed, the question is why we didn't become involved sooner.

Most towns have a memorial statue of some sort dedicated to our fallen heros. Why not skip the crass, commercial sales tomorrow and instead find out where that local memorial is. Then, take your family to it and sit there a few minutes to reflect on those brave, dedicated souls who -- to this very day, indeed, this very minute -- have laid down their lives for our security. Take your children if you have some, and bring a history book (preferably from more than 20 years ago, that is, before the shrill, leftist, liberals re-wrote them) to explain to them (your children) what is required, and WHY it is required that so many of our fellow citizens have fought and died for our wonderful way of life, our once-in-a-lifetime experiment in democracy that we proudly call America.

I know how our past wars have turned out. I don't know how our present one will, but I DO KNOW that our security, our lifestyle, our freedom depends on these brave people who are fighting in a living hell half-way around the world.

It doesn't matter whether weapons of mass destruction are found or not. These animals in the middle-east want to destroy us. They envy us and our way of life and they can't stand it. They hate us because we are everything they wish they were. Further, they use a defective interpretation of a religion as an excuse to murder innocents in order to make false martyrs of themselves. The suiciders are still just "worm-food" and after the maggots finish with them, there is nothing left but the memory of their evil deeds and murdered victims.

I am no "friend" of the present administration (but I'm even less of a friend to the potential "replacement" one) and I wish Bush and company would show a little more determination to actually WIN in Iraq. Rumsfeld is a failure. He has, simply put, been wrong in his "lean" fighting plan. We need another 50-100 thousand troops in Iraq. If we have to, pull everyone out of everywhere else for six months and just get it done already. We need to go in there like a swarm of angry hornets and attack and cower the resistance in that 'effing country. Then, when all is in control, then we reward and encourage the freedom loving factions and appoint them to their future government.

But all of this (my brief editorial) does not in any way diminish the valiant efforts of those who chose (volunteered!) to serve and defend America.

Today, tomorrow, let us think fondly of and honor and remember those who have given their lives for us. God bless them and prepare a special place in Heaven for them.

Skip the sales. Visit your local cemetery or war memorial and reflect for awhile. Tell your children that, quote: Freedom is not free. We only enjoy what we have because of so many lives lost defending us and our nation.

The Jews have a wonderful tradition of (during Passover) opening the front door, and leaving a dinner plate with food (wine?) for the ghost of the prophet Elijah. Tomorrow, when you have your barbecue, leave a seat, a place-setting for the spirit of a fallen soldier. Maybe, after explaining to your kids why, offer a moment of silence. And tomorrow night, why not write a check to the local veteran's hospital; just a simple donation to, in some small way, say, "thanks."

God bless America. It's not perfect, but it's better than anywhere else. And it's only better because of the ultimate sacrifices so many of our sons, daughters, friends, and fellow citizens have made for us. Let's try to make Memorial Day a bit more serious, a bit more important than we have been lately. Let's all try to remember what this day is really all about.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at May 30, 2004 07:11 PM