Happy Memorial Day... If one can really say that honestly.
Memorial Day is the day we honor those who have paid the ultimate price for their country. They have died so that we can remain free.
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall was at an event I attended today. I was able to explain to my daughter that the wall was special and that people would visit it to see the names of their loved ones on it.
Another item of interest I came across was a post that I saw. Someone made a good point when they said that Memorial Day was becoming more like Veteran's day. I totally agree with the person who posted that. It is, and there is not much we can do about it. Below is the response I gave. I hope that this helps to put this day, and every patriotic day into perspective. Especially since I realize that there are many people who would love to thank a member of the military, but don't know one.
"I can certainly see where you are coming from on this one. Unfortunately, the world we live in is not always as "clean-cut" as we would like it to be. As I listened intently to my Drill Sergeants on the day before we graduated from Basic Training, they gave us one final speech. This time it was on what you are obliged to do when someone tells you "Thank You!" Quite frankly, they told us, "You do not deserve it. You have not been deployed or even been trained (in AIT) to do your job yet. You have not defended this nation for one day in your life." "BUT, they continued, if someone thanks you, you had better keep your mouth shut and listen to them. Let them thank you." The average American doesn't know what a combat patch is, so they will have no clue that you are not returning from Afghanistan or Iraq. And most of them don't even know anyone in the military." Then they told us that when we wore this uniform, regardless of anything we had done or not done in our military career, we are representing EVERYONE who has ever put it on and that if they wanted to thank us, we had better let them. I kind of feel the same way when it comes to Veteran's Day and Memorial Day. Sure, I have deployed now, and I would like to think that I have at least done something to help make America a safer place, at least a little bit, but I know that I am nowhere near as deserving as those who have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan several times, or for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice by dying for their country. However, No matter how undeserving I am in comparison to them, as my Drill Sergeants so graciously informed me, it is my duty to stand there and listen since I may be the only person in the military they are ever able to thank. If I brush them off this time, they will probably not say "Thank You" to the person who is more deserving next time. Just a thought. I am not saying that the Drill Sergeants I had have everything right, but it makes sense to me."
As you celebrate today, I hope that you will remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country by honoring their memory on their day. Also, although this day is not for them, please feel free to thank anyone you know who is currently in the military as well (or even those who have served). After all, each and every one of them signed on that dotted line knowing full and well that they could be the one being honored on the next Memorial Day.
This BLOG is NOT endorsed by the United States Army. The opinions expressed are those of the author and some of his Drill Sergeants, who also not officially authorized to speak on behalf of the United States Army in this instance.
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Sincerely,
David H. Troyer
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