Today we remember and honor those who gave their lives in service of our country. Is it fitting and proper that we do so.
But ours is a young country, our conflicts are recent, and the memories fresh in our collective conscious.
Proud and brave young lives have been sacrificed through out human history.
Imagine the Greek King Pyrrhus of Epirus surveying the blood soaked battlefield of Asculum in 279 BC. Pyrrhus deployed 40,000 calvary and infantry and 20 war elephants. The Romans under Publius Decius Mus deployed 40,000 calvary and infantry and 300 anti-elephant devices.
After a two day battle, the Greeks were victorious. The Romans lost 6,000 men; Pyrrhus, 3,500, including many of his officers. Pyrrhus looked on the devastation and stated “One more victory like this, and we shall be utterly undone.”
This Memorial Day, while I pause to honor the sacrifice of our country’s great heroes, and express my deep gratitude, I will think, too, of sacrifices made throughout history, even back to antiquity, sacrifices that formed civilization as we know it today. And I will say a tiny prayer that somehow, someday, humans will indeed find a way to put an end to war.
Don Reedy says:
CJ,
Just stopped thinking about my father-in-law, a WWII navigator in the Pacific, and my father, an Army guy stationed in Belgium and Germany during WWII. My father-in-law cries easily and often now when he thinks about how many of his friends were lost, and how few remain. My father seldom speaks of any of his time in the hellhole that was WWII Europe.
For those who do remain, and for those like yourself who think upon them, I honor and contemplate.
I doubt war will diminish, nor despots fail to rise and ruin, but I doubt further that those of us who served or know those who served will be soon put under their thumb.
God bless you, David M. McGregor, Aviator, veteran, hero and father to my beloved bride. God Bless you, Lloyd C. Reedy, soldier, hero and father to this humbled son. May your service never go unnoticed. May I always hold you up as good men, no longer young, yet vibrant and so very important to those you honored through your service.
May 26, 2008 — 10:18 am
Mark McGlothlin says:
CJ,
Well written Memorial Day post. I have a nephew who just graduated from the Naval Academy this week, commissioned on Friday to begin his term of service. To him and the hundreds of thousands who have willingly served – our deepest gratitude. Somewhat sadly I agree with Don above that war and “the bad guys” won’t leave us, but freedom will win out in the end – freedom to dream and be is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.
May 26, 2008 — 11:10 am
Heather Rankin says:
I’ve been thinking about(and missing) my dad all day – he passed a couple of years ago. He was a submarine navigator in WWII on the PonPon and served again in Korea. It was not until he was in his late 70’s that he began talking openly about a few of his experiences. I don’t think those of us never there can comprehend those who were and are. My heart-felt thanks to each one.
Liberty is the only thing you cannot have
unless you are willing to give it to others.
— William Allen White
May 26, 2008 — 6:00 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
CJ- Thanks for a great and thoughtful post. While I share your hope for that day of peace, that cannot happen in a world governed by the aggressive use of force. As long as there are those who would oppress others, there must be an equal number standing at the ready to free the oppressed.
Heather- Thank you for that quote. Truly a gem.
To those who have served. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed nor unnappreciated.
Eric
May 27, 2008 — 4:37 am