The above cartoon describes the state of this holiday pretty damn good. While many of us take the time to remember the sacrifices of our heroes many others ignore it and party hard due to the 3 day weekend. We must remind those people that this day was proclaimed a day to remember. Remembering those who have fallen and those who are still serving:
Alex Horton on Memorial Day:
“many incorrectly thank Vets or active duty folks for their service. While appreciated, it’s misdirected. That’s what Veterans Day is for. Instead, they should take some time and remember the spirit of the country and the dedication of those men and women who chose to pick up arms. They never came home to be thanked, and only their memory remains.”
I was at a loss for something appropriate to write for this special day. I know many sad stories that will go to the grave with me. Don’t misread that line. I am not a hero, but many heroes came to me to talk. I mainly listened. I am an excellent listener. Hopefully, I helped some of them by listening and offering a few lame words of encouragement.
I am offering you this previously published story to avoid reaching deeper. It is a story that is painful enough for me. I hope, by reading these few lines, you will appreciate our brave servicemen and women a little more. I wish I could do more than saying thanks and shaking hands, but that seems to be the best that I can manage for now.
For a year, they had navigated minefields and ducked bullets, endured tedium inside barbed-wired outposts and stitched together the frayed seams of long-distance relationships. One would think that going home would be the easiest thing troops could do.
But it is not so simple. The final weeks in a war zone are often the most dangerous, as weary troops get sloppy or unfocused. Once they arrive home, alcohol abuse, traffic accidents and other measures of mayhem typically rise as they blow off steam.
As a pause in the middle of the battles over the WH initial statements following the killing of Osama Bin Laden, I’d like to insert a moment of unity… A POTUS winged his way to Kentucky to award the Seal team the Presidential Unit Citation, and to honor our military in general to a crowd of America’s finest at Fort Campbell. … snip… This was the speech and tone, if not more in a more abbreviated version, I wish we heard Sunday night. But it’s better late than never for me. I welcomed the Commander in Chief’s gracious acknowledgement of all those who enabled this mission’s success over the years.
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