Memorial Day Thoughts - 1012 Words

I usually write a piece for Memorial Day. I didn’t write one this year because I had written a memorial piece just this past Veteran’s Day. But, within minutes of last week’s item posting on May 30, three things happened that made me regret my decision. First, I received word that a fellow Vietnam veteran had died a few days before. Then, I received a Memorial Day ecard from another friend. And, third, between May 31 and June 4, emails from regular readers filled my inbox wanting to know why I had not written one. It is ALWAYS fitting to remember our military personnel that have died in the defense of this nation. I could NEVER forget it. I rarely talk about my own ventures into the world of combat. In fact, most of us older coots go†¦show more content†¦I revere Memorial Day, but it isn’t the only day that I remember our war-dead. Not a day of my life has passed since then that I don’t recall the horrors of decades ago. And, while it doesn’t happen with persistency any longer, I still bolt upright in bed in a heart-pounding cold sweat. Only I’m clutching my pillow and, mercifully, I realize that the blood-soaked lifeless soldier’s body and the horrible stench of thick, sticky, bloody goo are, once again, only a nightmare. And, somehow, I’m able to fall back to sleep. An image of a young woman lying prone and sobbing inconsolably before the grave marker of her beloved at a veteran’s cemetery set me off big time. And, we’d better understand that this is only the tip of an emotional iceberg of deeply rooted grief that loved ones of fallen troops must somehow get through. It doesn’t go away. I still feel it after several decades. As I finish typing this, my eyes are trying to see through a wall of flowing water, a stark reminder that learning to live without our loved ones is not the same as forgetting them. As long as we live, we don’t forget†¦ EVER! We possess the most powerful and dedicated military in the world. We’re deeply indebted to all currently serving as well as to all that have had their lives taken from them in the battle to keep us strong and free—I’ve never met anyone eagerly awaiting the chance to â€Å"GIVE† their lives. I certainly know that I wasnt. But, with the same level of fervor,Show MoreRelatedA Day Is A Special Holiday For Those Who ve Lost A Soldier921 Words   |  4 PagesMemorial Day is a special holiday for those who’ve lost a loved one in military service. For me, the holiday is two-fold. Yes, I remember the passing of my military dad, , but it’s also the day I remember all the best things about my father. It’s when I celebrate Father’s Day. My father was always proud to be a soldier. Sure, he would grumble about Army politics or how the service caused him to have bad knees and feet. Yet. he was good at being a solider. This was ironic because he did not chooseRead MoreCoping With Chaos Of A Storm1803 Words   |  8 Pagesaromatherapy candle, a back rub and a hot yoga session. There are times - and if they haven’t happened yet, they will - when your work lives will be wrought with chaos and you have to figure out how to cope with crisis or disaster. For me, it was Memorial Day weekend 2015. This is my story, and these are my tips for finding your peace in a storm. My Storm Back in May 2015 I was four month into my new position as a communication director for a central Texas town when I came down with a terrible caseRead MoreThe 9 / 11 Memorial And Museum900 Words   |  4 PagesThe 9/11 memorial and museum in New York City, is one of the most brilliant, exquisite, and complicated memorials ever made. 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This memorial is ultimately successful because it evokes emotion, whether that be sadness or possiblyRead MoreHistorical Memory Of The Memorial1525 Words   |  7 PagesSince the opening of the Emancipation Memorial in 1876, there has always been controversy regarding the accuracy of the message that the monument provides to its viewers. The Emancipation Memorial has become an example of the criticisms that many warped monuments face today, such as heroification. In order to have an effective monument, Loewen believes that the monument needs to be honest in the story that it shows, which includes not omitting any im portant figures, no racism, and no glorificationRead MoreThe Poem Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa1077 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Vietnam veteran’s memorial for the very first time. The author describes the emotional impact the visit has on him. The author uses lines such as â€Å"I said I wouldn’t, dammit: No tears.† (Komunyakaa, 1947, line 3-4) and â€Å"I’m stone. I’m flesh† (Komunyakaa, 1947, line 5) to drive home the emotion and deep feelings in the poem. Throughout the poem the author utilizes personification to add to the effect and the tone of the poem as well. The author talks about the memorials stone as if it were aliveRead MoreAnalysis : The 9 / 11 Memorial 1381 Words   |  6 Pagesthe scene as we walked up to the 9/11 memorial. The first sight that is visible in the area as we approach the exhibit is a small, antique church. In a way, this church symbolizes God’s presence in the crowd of people taking in the scenery. Th is moment in time, my view of life was changed as I realized the phenomenal event that we recognize with a moment of silence every year is so much bigger than I thought. It’s not until a person explores the 9/11 memorial that they fully understand the sorrow