Formerly known as Decoration Day, the Memorial Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day) weekend has deteriorated, for most people, into a time for sales on merchandise, mini-vacations and just another day off.
There's nothing wrong with these activities, but during the weekend I feel that some attention ought to be given to remembering that the freedoms we currently enjoy were purchased by the blood of patriots.
Even today we have men and women on our home and foreign soil fighting for our essential freedoms. Those modern soldiers are helping keep us safe by taking the battle to the homeland and hideouts of the people that despise us enough to attack us.
9/11/01
If you visit the National Cemeteries you will see that flags have been placed on each grave. At the cemeteries the national flag is raised and lowered each day, with honors, as is appropriate on this hallowed ground.
Veterans don't sell as many red paper poppies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_poppy) as they once did. These little flowers were worn to say, “I remember and I appreciate the military.”
Around the world there are American Military Cemeteries. They are managed under the Executive Branch of our government and exist in Europe, Africa, Asia and in the Americas.
In these cemeteries are the remains of the men and women who died in battle and whose families felt it was appropriate that they be buried near where they fell. You can view Hallowed Ground by clicking on the film at the American Battle Monuments Commission website:http://www.abmc.gov/home.php
At any cemetery you will find markers belonging to veterans. Privates, Seamen, non-coms, warrant officers and officers are laid to rest all around the globe.
Some bodies are marked by stones engraved, “Unknown”. The photo I took at the top of this post was taken at Raleigh's National Cemetery.
All of the Unknowns are honored by the watch at the tomb at Arlington. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/News/ANC_News.html
If you can find it, you ought to watch, “Section 60” - a story about the section of Arlington set apart for those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gen. George S. Patton is appropriately buried in Europe where his brilliant victories and sad demise took place. Peacetime would not have suited this warrior. Too bad he did not have his head to proceed marching against the Communists.
HBO has been showing all ten episodes of its miniseries, The Pacific. This was quite a departure from Band Of Brothers but was well done as it keyed its story on a few Marines and their exploits during WWII. Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have not outdone themselves … they have created a new approach to understanding war.
Their two remaining projects would be miniseries on the air war and the war as fought from our ships.
Expect to see Platoon, Glory and some John Wayneish films on your TV this Memorial Day. The Longest Day is classic and tries to touch the scope of what was accomplished on D-Day.
When you swallow your hot dog or hamburger or after you have taken advantage of a Memorial Day sale, remember that it was a veteran that bought your freedom to do so. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com
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