Memorial Day

Decoration Day, if you're old fashioned, so-called because this is the day you're supposed to go out and decorate the grave sites of veterans. (I worked, but Mrs. Drang and her Dad (USN, WWII) went out and visited all of the local Mrs. Drang's family graves. Several, and most of them vets.)

I've been wrestling all weekend about whether to write about Memorial Day, and if so, what to say.

Words seem so cheap.

People keep "thanking me for my service."

Even today.

sigh

Look, Memorial Day is to honor the memory of those who didn't make it back.

I'm here. I spent a lot of time overseas, but it was all peacetime service. I spent Desert Storm de-activating the unit I was assigned to. I retired from the Army a year before 9/11. By the standards of those today is supposed to be in honor of, I barely even went.

If you really want to thank those honored dead, then don't let their sacrifice be in vain.

I don't care what you think about the conflict they died in--make it worthwhile. I could go on about past or current conflict(s), ask if you really think things will be better where they are fighting now if we all just picked up and brought them home, but that would cheapen it.

Do what you can to make the country--no, the world--the kind of place they would be would have liked to see, to have their children and grand children, and so on and so on, live in.

Whether they fought to Establish or to Preserve the Union--or States' Rights--or to Free the Cubans and Filipinos, or to Make The World Safe For Democracy, or to End Tyranny and Militarism, or to Stop Communist Aggression, or to Bring Peace and Democracy to the Middle East and to Stop the Rise of Islamo-Fascism...

Don't throw it away.

Especially don't throw it away in their name!

If you hate the war but want to show your support for the troops, then volunteer at the USO, or Fischer House, or at your state's or your home town's Veteran's Home. (Or the US Armed Forces Retirement Home, if you're near DC or Gulfport, MS.)

Don't just tut-tut and excoriate the President next time you read about inadequate barracks, or protective gear, or VA benefits: Write your congressional representative--they're the ones who write the checks!

And, yes, you honor their memory and their sacrifice by honoring the flag, the National Colors. Partly by not wrapping yourself in it for political causes! And yes, I am talking about you, and you and especially you! If you see, say, a candidate for office Doing The Wrong Thing, correct him or her, but don't make a Federal Case of it.

Sigh, again.

Said more than I intended to. Crossed over into Current Events a couple of times, too, but, well, maybe someone will listen...