Our own poet laureate, Capt. George Harris has once again generously provided us with our Memorial Day Remembrance. George served in the military from the Korean War until the late 1990’s. He entered the Navy as a Seaman Recruit and rose to the rank of Captain over his 39 year career. Ask him about his experiences next time he is online.
Once again, many Americans will take time from their hectic pace to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. Some high ranking person, our president in many instances, will lay a wreath at that marble edifice in Arlington National Cemetery where an inscription declares:
HERE RESTS IN
HONORED GLORY
AN AMERICAN
SOLDIER
KNOWN BUT TO GOD
And somber words will be spoken in many places to veterans and their families across our Nation. It is a time of reflection, a time to recall that millions of young Americans have answered the Nation’s call to duty and more than 848,000 have laid down their life answering this call. It also is a time to remember those whose lives have been permanently altered by the acts of war. Over the last 237 years, more than 1,350,000 young men and women have suffered the wounds of war. And the price this Nation pays for their wounds carries on for decades. For the next five or six decades we will see these young men and women grow old but the scars of their injuries will remain; absent arms and legs, blinded eyes and mental illness with its own set of horrors will serve to remind us of the price of war.
I have often said that American must love war because we have been in so many. We even fought among ourselves in our great Civil War where we managed to kill nearly 600 of America’s finest every day for four long years.
This year, as Taps echoes across the land, and the “Flags In” ceremony is carried out for the thousands of graves at Arlington National Cemetery, let us take a moment to remember not just those who have paid the ultimate price but also those who answered the call to arms. Let us remember the millions of American families who have been affected by the wars we have fought and, finally, let us remember those who were are enemies. They also answered their nation’s call to arms, they also laid down their lives and their families also suffered the pains of war.
God bless the men and women of our Armed Forces and God bless the United States of America.
That was beautiful George, thank you. So many men and women are in harms way as we speak right now, or just far away from home, stationed in a place with no family. I am lucky, my family are mere miles away, not countries away. I truly appreciate those who are willing to defend this country.
George, Thank you.
It’s important to remember those who have died but its equally important to remember those who came home with life altering injuries, both physical and emotional.
We needed a stark reminder that we can’t see all injuries. You can tell if someone is missing and arm or a leg–not so much if they are suffering from PTSD or similar emotional problems.
Thank you for this reminder and dedication.
Thank you once again for publishing my mental meanderings. Far from being a “poet laureate”, I’m simply an old guy with fond and not so fond memories of some halcyon days and other days filled with great sorrow. Somewhere in the postings today on this blog, someone mentioned how young our warriors are. For the most part, they have always been young–war is not an enterprise for older folks except to send the young off to war. The average age is about 28 but some 20% are between 18 and 21 except for the Marines where some 37% are between 18 and 21. Today 19 and 20 year olds are maintaining and operating equipment that perhaps their fathers and certisny their grandfathers couldn’t find the “go” button on much less maintain or operate that equipment. And the price they often pay for this is terribly high. I suppose we could say we are “lucky” to live in a nation where young men and women take on such an awesome responsibility. God bless them and God bless this nation.
The average age is younger for these wars we are in now than it was in WWII, according to something I just read.
@George
Hard to believe.
My gg grandfather who was in the Civil War was 35. I don’t know if he was drafter or enlisted. Considering it was 1861 I am assuming he enlisted.
And George, yes you are our poet laureate. We won’t let you resign.
My mother just stopped by on her way home from the ceremony at Quantico National Cemetery. She talked of the women who attended the ceremony – including a 105 year old and the young woman who was directly ahead of her. My mother said the young woman stood as straight as a soldier but was dressed in black which made my mother wondered if she or a spouse or both had served in the military.
105, wow!
Good for your mother for having the get up and go to attend.
Thank you for your 39 years of service. It takes a special person to dedicate their life to others.
105–we should all be so lucky! She well could have had a brother or perhaps a husband in WWI.