Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day is truly a somber day to honor all of our fallen heroes fighting for our freedom, our rights represented by The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence - All of which are our guardians, our guides to how we made the United States of America a great country, a great power is what is protected by those who gave their lives defending it all.

 Our fallen heroes, our military forces have fought for those in the other countries as well who are oppressed and facing genocide but it seems those countries who asked for help don't seem to care we are there, taking for granted our presence and taking what was given them to use against us.

WWII military personnel, including women, makes one realize the sacrifices our American Armed Forces made during that time. Fighting in Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii (was not part of the United States then), Germany, Northern Africa, Europe, basically the world trying to stop a one world power, Adolf Hitler. The United States were fighting, at that point, for our lives as well as the lives of the people in the rest of the world.

 

"Social Balance" by Claudio Altesor

 

Since WWII our Armed Forces had responded to South Korea's plight in the 1950's known as the Korean War, losing lives. And then the United States was called on by France in 1959 to help in Vietnam. Once our Armed Forces had entered the fight, France left, leaving it to us. For 12-years we lost many men and women to what seemed to be a never-ending battle. Our men and women were considered and treated less than heroes when they came home in their coffins because of the tone made by those who opposed us being there. It was the first time the private world news media were involved in reporting...it was the beginning of the end of our Armed Forces.

Those men and women who fought in the Vietnam War are heroes and should never be forgotten. They had to endure more than one can ever imagine - from watching in disbelief infants, babies, toddlers children being used as live bombs, to learning a new technique in warfare - jungle warfare; from having to do an 18 month tour to doing more than one consecutive tour (not the 4-6 months done now); from going to Vietnam believing what our government was trying to do after being left in the dust by France and other countries to coming home to be buried in a country whose people hated them.

That alone is the worst, the epitome of feeling like a failure when your own country shuns your son or daughter who gave their life to save the lives of those who were being forced to live a life of oppression. Please know - NOT EVERYONE HATED YOU!

Now fast forward to today. Our Armed Forces who are trying to keep order in Iraq, protect and build in Afghanistan have sacrificed their lives for those people being oppressed, killed in genocide killings, being pounced and trampled on by the greed and power of one individual's beliefs, forcing these people to bow to what he/she wants. We have lost many, our hearts and prayers go out to those families who have lost a loved one in these battles. And again it is happening with protests at the funerals of these fallen heroes. Just remember, NOT EVERYONE HATES YOU!

But what brought us to this day and who actually were the first responders to these horrific acts that perpetrated on our soil? We all remember and will never forget the day that will go down in infamy. The infamous day of September 11, 2001.

September 11, 2001 - First Responders, as they are called, arrived to a pile of melting, twisted steel and iron, glass shatters, papers flying, inhaling deadly, toxic dust from so many different forms of building materials and seeing people jump to their death; the members of the police and fire departments. One must remember our military forces could not and cannot respond because it is against the law for them to do so on our soil. That is why each state has the National Guard, and the Coast Guard.

Seeing the "The Day the World Cried" by Matt Roe is heart wrenching. It brings back the memories of our schools being locked down, our local and federal buildings being in lock down, a hushed silence falling from the sky as you traveled down the roads to get home, an instinct to gather all family members. 

 

From the beginning, the members of the police and fire departments are the defenders of our soil. Our own terrorist attack by Timothy McVay on the federal building in Ohio, the Waco Texas siege, the bombing of the parking garage at the World Trade Center in 1992, the Fort Hood attack, the attempted, and thankfully failed bombing in Time Square, the arrest of the terrorist. The arrests of those who have tried to blow up planes, area targets of bridges and most recently and forever imbedded in our minds Sandy Hook and other shootings at schools, public events, malls, movie theaters and the Boston Marathon.

Why aren't the First Responders - men and women - who lost their lives included in this day of remembrance? After all, they have given their lives while trying to save the fallen citizens of our country, trying to thwart grievous attacks against us on our soil - they should be remembered on Memorial Day! They have given and sacrificed as our Armed Forces have. It truly is sad to learn that many of those first responders are dying now because of the residual effects of that infamous day of 9/11.

The constant vigilant efforts of our Armed Forces, whether they be policemen, firemen, military personnel is a somber realization they should be remembered always, not just on Memorial Day.

And to think after all of this, someone actually said "Happy Memorial Day!" Remember the Memorial Day parades of yesteryear when they were silent and all you heard was the footsteps of the veterans and active personnel of the armed forces marching, the clicking of the color guards rifles hitting the ground as they did their routine, perhaps you would hear a trumpet in the distance playing taps and then twenty one volleys of fire. A somber day.

 

 "Happy Memorial Day!" You know, though, maybe there is something to this. Perhaps we should re-think it perhaps we should remember our fallen heroes but yet learn that it is okay to go on and enjoy living, celebrating our freedom, our rights; because they fought for us so that we can enjoy life, that we can celebrate life, our freedoms, our rights.

Just a thought...

Tears will flow, however bittersweet, for our loss and yet at the same time thanking the brave men and women for the most precious gift they had to give us – their own lives for ours and others.

Be at Peace! Enjoy Life! and please don't ever forget why you are able to enjoy life here in the United States...