Memorial Day: So When Did We Forget?

Barbeques.  Parties.  Parades.  Flag waving and fireworks.  A day off of work.  For far too many people, this is the first thing they think of when they think of Memorial Day.  They can’t wait for the 5:00 bell on Friday afternoon.  The anticipation of a long weekend of celebrating with family and friends has their motor in overdrive.  Perhaps they will catch a ballgame, or pitch some horse shoes, maybe go fishing with their friends or their kids.  These things are all fantastic and bonding with family and friends is never a bad thing.  But do we stop to remember?  Does anyone understand what Memorial Day is really about?  Does it come up in the conversation at the barbeque?  In the fishing boat?  Beside the pool?  Do you take time to explain it to your kids?  So, when did we forget?

The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics shows that, at present, there are over 22 million veterans living in these United States.  That makes up roughly 6.8% of the current U.S. population.  Chances are you have a veteran in your family.  Chances are even better that you know a veteran.  These are people that we look at and interact with on a regular basis.  So, when did we forget?

My paternal grandfather Harold Foltz served in the U.S. Army during WWII.  He was stationed in the Philippines, a hot bed of Japanese activity.  He lost friends there.  He fought for his life there.  He fought for his country there.  He fought for me there.  He fought for you there.  My great uncle and my maternal grandfather both served in the Merchant Marine, keeping our coast safe from what everyone thought was an imminent German U-boat invasion.  They stood guard for me.  They stood guard for you.  So, when did we forget?

Outside of my family I have many friends that have served in different branches of the military.  Several of them are combat veterans from Desert Storm.  Others have served more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I love them just the same, but they are not the same men that walked into the recruiting office and signed up to fight an enemy that is hell bent on eradicating the “western” way of life.  They are changed.  Forever changed.  Most of them cannot, or simply will not talk about the things they have seen.  One friend is deaf in one ear because of an IED.  He lost his hearing but others lost so much more.  Arms, legs, lives.  The survivors are just that—survivors.  The things they witnessed; the Hell on earth they went through changed them.  They cannot forget.  So, when did we forget?

Some will say that Memorial Day is a day to remember the fallen and the combat weary, and it certainly is.  But it is also a day to express the eternal gratitude we should all possess toward those who served so bravely and selflessly, standing guard so we can sleep safely each night.  Even the survivors lost a part of themselves to that world. 

Who do you know?  Your dad?  Your sister?  Your best friend?  Your neighbor?  Go shake their hand.  Go thank them.  Hug their neck and let them know how much you appreciate the fact that they were willing to give up their lives so that we could all wave our flags, watch the parades, and have our barbeques.  Without our veterans, there would be no United States of America.  Lest we forget.