But Memorial day began in 1966 with the idea that Americans would honor their war dead and decorate their graves to keep in remembrance the sacrifice they made. All politics aside, I wish to honor those who gave their lives so that I might live mine as I wish.
My father fought in the south Pacific in WWII, and he will not speak of it to this day. Following the war, he joined the Army and was part of the Occupation of Germany for six years. He still speaks German as if he were a native (give him a couple of days and natives ask him for directions). We went to Dachau and he would not go in with us, choosing instead to go into town for coffee. He'd been there at before it had been cleaned up and the memories were far too fresh after 60+ years.
We think of our war heroes as old men like my father. But the truth is far different. I rarely thought of this until I saw this quote just today:
"It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor those who died in defense of our country in wars far away. The imagination plays a trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old and wise. We see them as something like the Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But most of them were boys when they died, they gave up two lives -- the one they were living and the one they would have lived. When they died, they gave up their chance to be husbands and fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance to be revered old men. They gave up everything for their county, for us. All we can do is remember."
-- Ronald Wilson Reagan
Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony, Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, Virginia, November 11, 1985
And so for all American war dead, defending our country or another, regardless of political ideology, I say "Thank you." You died too soon. In whatever action you fought and died, against whatever foe, for whatever reason, you did your duty. And I am free to write this.
Thank you.
