Letters from North
America
At
the end of this month
we’ll celebrate Memorial
Day. Another national
holiday to some but one
that should be of major
importance to us all.
Memorial Day is the day
we’ve set aside to honor
those who have died in
the defense of our
nation since its
inception. All too often
we use this day off from
work as the start of
summer without any
regard to its meaning or
significance. We picnic,
barbeque, swim or do a
multitude of other
outdoor activities
without taking even a
moment to think about
why we are observing the
day in the first place.
If you go to this
website:
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004615.html)
you’ll find a list of
all of the war
casualties beginning
with the Revolutionary
War to the present.
Total these up and it
comes out to a little
over 1,190,000 citizens
of this country who have
died in battle or as a
result of a battle for
our liberty.
This is what Memorial
Day is about. It isn’t
about carpooling to a
theme park or grabbing a
choice table at the
park. It’s about
remembering those who
died so that we can live
in this country. It’s
about giving some
thought to how we remain
free and enjoy our lives
as a result of someone
giving up their lives to
protect us.
I am a veteran, but
isn’t me that should
receive honor on
Memorial Day, it’s those
who did not get to come
home.
In the past several
years we’ve had a number
of movies or television
programs about war.
“Saving Private Ryan” as
well as “Band of
Brothers” and now the
series…. “Pacific”. It’s
my opinion these should
be required viewing for
all of our students at
some point in their
education. The only time
anyone ever shot at me
was when I was a cop and
I have a hard time
remembering how I felt
at the time since the
incidents were so brief.
If you have seen any of
the war productions I
think you will agree
with me that they are
probably the most
accurate portrayal of an
actual battlefield
experience other than a
documentary. I cannot
see how anyone who
survived those battles
could easily sit through
a screening of these
films without having
some sort of flashback.
These will hurt your
heart.
My Dad made the Normandy
invasion on June 6th,
1944, but he never
talked about it. After
seeing these film
productions I think I
can imagine why. The
violence was so great
and inhuman I think it
would be impossible not
to scar you for life
with the imprint of
death and destruction.
It’s a wonder any of our
men and women who did
come home could ever
function in civilized
society again. Requiring
our youngsters to see
these films would serve
to make them aware of
the huge sacrifices
others have made for our
freedom. Certainly we
have issues and
differences in this
country between
ourselves, but in the
end we are Americans and
we owe a lot to the
people who died on our
behalf.
The holiday was actually
started back in May of
1865 in Charleston,
South Carolina by a
group of former slaves
who had been freed as a
result of the Civil War.
A mass grave for Union
soldiers was exhumed and
their remains reburied
in individual grave
sites. Their memory was
celebrated and called
Decoration Day. A crowd
of over 10,000 showed up
for the celebration. The
term ‘Memorial Day’ was
first used in 1882 and
was celebrated on May
30th, until 1968, when
the Congress passed the
Uniform Holidays Bill
which moved three
holidays to a specified
Monday in order to make
a three day weekend. The
time for a moment of
remembrance is 3pm on
Memorial Day and all
flags should be flown at
half staff until noon on
this day.
I’m certain there are
those reading my columns
who may object to the
thought that we should
teach our youth about
war and its horrors. My
only comment would be
that their freedom to
object is given to them
and to me as a direct
result of the lives of
the men and women who
sacrificed their lives
for all of us. Not just
one or two of us, but
for all of us. Our
history is what defines
us, we should never
forget these heroes and
certainly should think
of them at least for a
moment on Memorial Day,
2010 and every year
thereafter.
Comments got to
www.pearyperry.com.
Complaints go nowhere.
