The Battle of Yorktown - image britishbattles.com
To most of the U.S. Citizenry, Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer season, some area vaguely aware that here is another element, one which those who are not necessarily commercialized understand deeply. There are those who have fought in conflicts and war since the Revolutionary War, that are honored each Memorial Day for the Sacrifices they made to ensure that the nation was kept safe. Today, those who had fought, their relatives and friends, and those citizens who understand that the men and women on the frontlines of any conflict, are risking life and limb – for each and every one of us.
There is an old poem found, that sums up the “why we celebrate memorial day” question, as well as gives us the origin of the red poppies we find our veteran’s handing out in exchange for donations for the many things they do for their brothers in arms – “In Flanders Field"
From the Arlington Cemetery:
In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
A fairly decent synopsis of the history of Memorial Day can be found here:at www.usmemorialday.org.
From the Revolution to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, one is reminded of those who loved country, this country so much, they put everything on hold, to defend the United States against those who would destroy our nation – in the very beginning, even before the first shots were fired, a unique streak of independence proliferated in the land where personal dreams became a reality, and no man, or woman, was subject to live a life a “state” or “monarchy” “suggested”, rather they were and remain free to make choices every day, on where to live, work and worship – all without fear – there are few nations that offer those options, and only one where the history of sacrifice runs as deep, for so long, as does those who have fight, and continue to fight for the United States of America.
The Ultimate Sacrifice for Freedom by conflict from the Congressional Record:
Revolutionary War: (1775-1783) 4435
War of 1812 (1812-1815): 2,260
Mexican War (1846-1848): 13,283
Civil War (Union Forces Only) (1861-1865): 364,511
Spanish-American War (1898-1901): 2,446
World War I (1917-1918) 116,516
World War II (1941-1946) 405,399
Korean War (1950-1953): 36,574
Vietnam Conflict (1964-1973): 58,220
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): 383
From: fas.org, through 2010 Operation Enduring Freedom: (2001 – 2010): 973
Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2110): 4,365
Of the later two, it is imperative to note that wounded service members far exceed KIO.
The above is given as a remember to those who may not know the scope of the lives given, from the first shots fired to set the United States on its course as a Free and Separate Nation, though the major conflicts. The PDF referred to above, also lists minor conflicts and related deaths of which there were many – although cold statistics, one cannot help feel that this day set aside, once a year, to honor those who have fallen is imperative: Give thanks to those who have died so that as a whole this nation can continue to allow the rest of us to speak out minds, no matter what may be the subject, and move about the nation, without fear of reprisal, to chosen were to live, and what manner of work or career one might choose.
No comments:
Post a Comment