This weekend spend a moment, 3 breaths, before you eat that hamburger or take a pull off that beer, to remember what Memorial Day is for. It’s not a day of PTO or the ‘official start of grill season’ (whatever that means).
It is the day to remember the boys who did horrific things and made terrible choices because we asked them to.
Yes, we may not agree with the politics that sent them to do our community’s bidding but no soldier I ever met picked up a rifle and boarded a chopper bound for harms way over politics. Every serviceman I ever saw, met or served with stood to when called because of an oath to a slim piece of parchment and, when called, they looked to both sides and saw their brethren, who shared that same oath, stepping to as well.
So this weekend, take those three breaths, the number of breaths that it takes for a serviceman’s soul to separate from the mortal coil, to remember those boys who bore the horror of events that involved choices no boy should ever be asked to make and did so in our name.
Believe or don’t believe in that which soldiers have been called to do— that’s politics. There is no room for politics in remembrance. Remembrance is to show some sliver of respect for those who fought when called.
One deep breath, blown out quickly. One fast breath, pushed out slowly. One long breath, rattling slowly outward……………. remember.
Who kept the faith and fought the fight;
The glory theirs, the duty ours.
~Wallace Bruce