It was for many decades known as "Decoration Day" which was changed to Memorial Day later. My mother's mother, who came to live with us when I was a boy after she was widowed, continued to call it "Decoration Day" until she died in the 1950s.
Though there are many veterans in my clan, including my late brothers and me (one of whom is buried in Arlington Cemetery for his service in WWII), we have been fortunate in not having anyone die in war in several generations. But in the extended clan, we have.
So today I'd like to honor the memory of Karina S. Lau, my great-niece Mary's husband's beloved sister (Mary's husband is a military career man still). Karina was one of the early casualties in the Iraq War, and may be the first—certainly among the first—woman to die in that war. She was only twenty years old.
The best way we can honor all our war dead, on all sides of whatever conflict, is to work to make war obsolete. It may be an impossible goal, but at least by working toward that goal we can get closer than ever before (after all, the world has not been as deadly, violent or destructive as it was in WWII since then, so that's some kind of progress).
[You can read one military obit of Karina here.]
11 comments:
Correction - the jihadists' "war" is not gainst all non-muslims, it is against all non-jihadists, which includes the vast majority of peaceful, devout, good Muslims. Speak accurately ot don't speak.
Had to delete the stalker's lies but well made point in response Robert.
To wit, many Muslims were killed in the twin towers on 911.
Exactly.
Here's what I wrote on Facebook, my take on "Memorial (Decoration) Day':
We are all hopefully working toward a better, more fair, more just, more equal world. To me, when I think of those who serve, I think not only of our Armed Forces, the soldiers that Bob refers to, but also, let us remember the countless people on our own home turf, and, for that matter, all over the planet, who are not military, but who nevertheless define by their lives and actions, SERVICE. Including, but not limited to, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, paramedics and other first responders, healthcare professionals - all caregivers, teachers, clergy, social workers, parents, children caring for parents, community and schools volunteers, caregivers to the disabled, and countless others who do good, help others, who sacrifice to make this world better. On Memorial (Decoration) Day, and EVERY DAY, I honor and give thanks for all of these.
Nailed it Robert.
And.....the photographers , poets, painters, musicians, & all creative artists. They give back each and every day, very personal gifts-rich in humanity and brotherhood. Through their art they lift the poor, comfort the suffering and enrich lives on many levels. They give us purity, beauty, reflection, inspiration, hope & love. (lots of that) And they are probably already on your grateful list because they are volunteers, caregivers, and service people in all walks of life. Let's have a Humanity Day: each and everyday-
I wonder what they teach the kids in school. Or if the kids listen if they do indeed try to teach them. i had three 13 yer olds in the car yesterday driving them home from a memorial day soccer tournament. One of them asked what the day was in memorial of. The other two kids had no clue either. Well, I tried to explain, and perhaps these three kids will remember it next year. But really, the thing that has happened with days like these is that kids mostly see them as a day off school. No connection to the reason behind. Clearly the parents of the kids I had in the car had not explained much either.Maybe the name of the day is too lame. Maybe it should be Killed Soldiers Day.
Oh my- Any of my First Graders could have tutored those teens on Memorial Day. Perhaps a flow of hormones temporarily impaired their thinking??? My son marched in Memorial Day Parades from age 5 on- always followed by a service and then hot dogs/soda at our local VFW- where history and personal memories were shared. It is definitely a team effort to educate kids today- school, family & community all working together. Good thing you were there for those teens Tore-
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