5-30-22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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America has become so secularized that we are stripping our traditional religious observances \u2013 Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving \u2013 of spiritual distinctives, re-branding them in schools, public squares, and the media as Winter, Spring, and Fall Fests, and more innocuous labels when they can be found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even worse, our secular solemnities also are being neutered. The greatest of presidents whose lives are inspirations have been consigned to virtual snow-globes and shaken up as flakes in a generic \u201cpresidents day\u201d flurry, lost among unfortunate and forgotten nonentities. Fireworks and parades on the Fourth of July are symbols that largely have yielded to barbecues and reunions. All of those former commemorative days have morphed into excuses for long weekends and cheesy TV commercials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suffering not the least in this rush to homogenize our cultural heritage is Memorial Day. I thank God that some people still recall and honor the origin of the patriotic day, originally \u201cDecoration Day,\u201d established for visits to graves and monuments of fallen heroes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can be thankful for small favors, but I generally curse the impulse that kidnaps Memorial Day and uses it as an excuse to \u201cmark the beginning of summer\u201d and inspire weekend sales at furniture outlets and used-car lots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My dad served in World War II (he overflew D-Day in a Weather Squadron) and came home; so \u201chis day,\u201d as with millions of others, and from other wars, was Veterans Day. Memorial Day honors those who sacrificed their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Military service always incurs sacrifice, whether men were drafted or men and women who volunteer. And no less (to the nation\u2019s shame) spouses and children who often sacrifice greatly too. From my perspective, and what inhabits my desire to memorialize and hold these dead in awe, is what motivated those service personnel whom we honor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In every war through history, combatants sometimes have been motivated by hate. It manifests itself in all sorts of ways, from summoning bravery… to action \u201cbeyond the call of duty\u201d… to, occasionally throughout history, savagery and atrocities. The range of motives and performance is wide \u2013 but I have always believed that the essence of hatred, if it could be distilled and measured, routinely is stronger in civilian leaders than in the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Largely this is due to the underlying causes of many wars. As a historian and as a Christian, I will unfurl the flag of my cynicism. Wars have been fought for noble reasons, including defense and rescue operations. Many also have been fought for territorial gain or commercial advantages \u2013 often brutal, yet arguable extensions, as von Clausewitz wrote, of politics and diplomacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cynicism joins the battle, so to speak, when we recognize how many wars have been fought, and lives lost, over hollow objectives; futile suicide missions; changing war goals; civilian slaughter; friendly embraces of recent enemies; abandoned rationales for \u201cwhy we fight\u201d; and neglect of gold-star families and veterans\u2019 needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should I mention such things on a Memorial Day? I cannot help it; but in my mind such memories inspire a greater motivation \u2013 indeed, a necessity \u2013 to honor the dead. If not the wars, memorialize the dead<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, I believe, have not fought and died out of hatred, even against malign enemies\u2026 but more out of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They love their homeland. They love their families, their Main Streets, their heritage. They love their flag. They love peace, the ultimate goal. More \u2013 and here is what leaves me awestruck and deserves our \u201cmemorialization\u201d \u2013 they love service. They love serving. They love and accept and embrace sacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How many people have that \u201cDNA\u201d any more? Thank God for the \u201cfew and the proud\u201d in all military branches\u2026 and we surely can wonder whether the \u201cfew\u201d are growing fewer in society. If America\u2019s shores and cities and towns were invaded, would regular citizens be willing (or able, if guns are confiscated) to rise up in defense?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I truly wonder whether the ghostly echelon of the fallen \u2013 whose graves I hope we all will visit on Memorial Day, even if the cemeteries and the gravestone names are unfamiliar \u2013 would have been so dedicated if they could have looked ahead and could have seen what has America has become. I won\u2019t start a checklist of horrible transformations in our society, but if you have read this far, you probably agree with me. If not\u2026 well, the right publicly to disagree, which is threatened, remains one of things our fallen heroes died to protect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Salute. Shed a tear. Raise a prayer. We honor fallen heroes for wearing the uniform, embracing the flag, and sacrificing \u201ctheir lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor.\u201d Let us honor them too for America\u2019s dwindling (God forbid) spirit of service and sacrifice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let us pray that not one of them, after all, did not die in vain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n + + +<\/p>\n\n\n\n