Memorial Day 2007.
Today, we honor those who have gone before. In November, we honor the living.
I don't mind the sales. Commerce built this country. I don't mind "Going to the Lake" - having fun with family and friends makes life worth living. And this day is about having a life worth living.
And I know that most of us (though not perhaps those who read this space) have no memory of a loved one lost in war. Many of the younger of us don't remember or never knew a relative who served in time of war.
Heh. TINS. At work, we have VFW "Buddy Poppies" out for sale, the proceeds go to benefit veterans needing assistance. When Jack, my colleague who is in charge of that little fund-raiser, went to collect up donations at the local food emporium in our building, the owner told him the young kids who work in the building and eat in the Cafe had been surprised to learn that Memorial Day had an actual meaning, beyond a three-day weekend. Good golly have we adults collectively failed our children in that regard. That said -
Have a good time. That's the point.
By living your life, planning your future, you redeem the voucher that those who have answered the Last Call for the last time bought for you.
Their service was *all* about the Capital F Future.
Just by living our lives, and taking an interest in what goes on around us, we pay that debt. We can pay it ahead by keeping an eye on those who commit us to war. And recognizing that avoidance for avoidance's sake is as bad in its way as rushing headlong and blindly into battle. Truly, in this arena, the answer lies in the middle, not at the extremes.
But.
BUT...
Whatever else you do with your free day - Remember Them. It only takes a moment. But Remember. They are not truly gone until we forget.
For some of us, the true meaning of this holiday doesn't come into focus until...
We Hear The Knock.
Attend The Funeral.
And Bury Our Dead.
This is why today is Memorial Day.
The town of Culpeper Virginia remembers.
Carren Z, who almost became a War Widow, has a post up that isn't so much about Memorial Day as it is about *why* we have Memorial Day.
Today, at Castle Argghhh! we remember those who one way or another touched the Castle and it's Denizens this last year.
At Princess Crabby's, Major Mike Nachsen remembers.
Bad Cat Robot remembers.
Denizen Kat has produced a Memorial Day Video.
SWWBO remembers William J. Healy, her father, and WWII veteran.
We remember 2LT John T. Donovan, an artilleryman of the Great War.
We remember Ann Donovan, my mother, who saw a husband off to two wars, and a son off to one.
We remember Bill Meriwether, Colonel of Infantry, AUS, WWII and Korea.
We remember LTC(R) Karl Teepe, my ROTC instructor, who died at the Pentagon.
We remember Charlotte Winters, a veteran of WWI.
We remember Corporal David Unger, who died in Iraq.
We remember Sergeant Donald Lucas, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Corporal Christopher Paul Stannix, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Corporal Aaron E. Williams, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Coporal Brent Poland, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Private Kevin Vincent Kennedy, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Private David Robert Greenslade, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan
We remember Col. Thomas H. Felts Sr, who died in Iraq.
We remember Colonel James Harrison, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember Specialist Benjamin Ashley, who died in Iraq.
We remember Specialist John Edward Wood, who died in Iraq.
We remember Colonel Paul M. Kelly, who died in Iraq.
We remember Staff Sergeant Darryl D. Booker, who died in Iraq.
We remember Staff Sergeant Lawrence Lee Roy Parrish, who died in Iraq.
We remember Second Lieutenant Emily Perez, who died in Iraq.
We remember Navy Lieutenant and sometime President of the United States Gerald Ford, a veteran of WWII.
We remember Elmer B. Lindsey, a veteran of WWII, who drove the first vehicle across the Ludendorff Bridge, at Remagen.
We remember Colonel Jeff Cooper, veteran, and one hell of a shot.
We remember Sergeant First Class Bernard Lee Deghand, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember WO Frank Mellish, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember WO Richard Nolan, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember Sergeant Shane Stachnik, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember Private Mark Graham, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan, due to friendly fire from US aircraft.
We remember Chief Warrant Officer Robert (Bobby) Girouard, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember Corporal Albert Storm, Canadian Army, who died in Afghanistan.
We remember Captain Glenn Ford, US Navy veteran of WWII and Vietnam. Oh, and he was an actor.
We remember Lieutenant Jessica Hill, USCG, who died on duty.
We remember Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, USCG, who died on duty.
We remember Kenny L. Sculley, fellow Rotarian, Army veteran.
We remember Private First Class Kristian Menchaca who died in Iraq.
We remember Private First Class Thomas Tucker who died in Iraq.
We remember William K. Healey, a Vietnam Veteran.
We remember Major Douglas Zembiec, the Lion of Falluiah, who died in Iraq.
We remember Sergeant Alexander Funcheon, who died in Iraq.
We remember Professor Liviu Librescu, who died a sheepdog, protecting his flock, at Virginia Tech.
We remember Staff Sergeant Darrell Kasson, who died in Iraq.
We remember Staff Sergeant David Berry, a holder of the Soldier's Medal, who died in Iraq.
We remember Sergeant Ian Anderson, who died in Iraq.
We remember Staff Sergeant George Brown, a soldier of the 2nd Division, in WWII.
We remember Arvil Stanley, a Marine Raider in WWII.
We remember Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis, who died in Iraq, that his buddies might live.
Whatever else we may do today... we will Remember.
Because, it's just a pittance of time.
Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam of our American dead.
Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam of our fallen Commonwealth Allies.
And lastly, now is the time at Castle Argghhh!, when the Armorer dances, alone, for Mom. To the music she requested for her service, The Navy Hymn.
Others doing a little remembering...
Blackfive’s How to Honor the Real Heroes.
Soldiers’ Angels Germany, Remember.
Iraq the Model on a different kind of Memorial Day event, today in Baghdad.
Malkin, How Not to Honor a Fallen Hero.
Badgers Forward, Memorial Day Observed.
Michael Yon’s Memorial Day Message.
The Anchoress: These Formidable People Think Freedom Is So Valuable That It Is Worth Dying For.
Butterfly Wife, The Memorial Day Ads Are Here.
My Desert Adventure, The Real Hero.
Old War Dogs, Don’t Let Them be Forgotten.
And not least - another excellent roundup of fine Memorial Day posts can be had at Mudville Gazette, where Mrs. Greyhawk spent many hours pulling that together.
Homefront Six explains she was once one of those kids I talked about.
Neptunus Lex has an *excellent* post that takes a historical bent.
SGT Hook, The Honor Was Ours.
And just as I finish this update... my inbox pings.
DoD Identifies Army CasualtiesThe Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died May 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.
They were assigned to 1st Brigade Transition Team, and attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.
Killed were:
Sgt. 1st Class Robert E. Dunham, 36, of Baltimore, Md.
Staff Sgt. Russell K. Shoemaker, 31, of Sweet Springs, Mo.
For more information in regard to this release the media can contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at (785) 239-3410.
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