When Zach, my grandson, was in Cub Scouts, The Scouts from the Hightower District went to Marietta National Cemetery on Memorial Day. Scouts came in full uniform, with their pack leaders, to place flags on Veterans’ graves. Scouts were assigned their section for placing flags, and off they went. It was impressive to see Scouts scampering about, flags in hand, carefully placing a U. S. Flag on each grave. They were respectful, careful, and, well, typical little boys at work/play.
It was interesting to see how some Scouts were taken aback to discover dates the graves of Civil War soldiers; most of the dates on gravestones showed how young men were who were buried there. I mean young men.—most were under 25 years old. The Scouts probably thought, “A cemetery for militery veterans—Old Men who died!” But veterans there, mostly soldiers who died in the Civil War. And in fact, most of the graves in veteran battlefields over the world, are mostly like the ones for these young men. As Pete Seeger sang, “Where have all the young men gone/ gone to uniforms everyone….” (it is 4:30 minutes long, but worth the listen).
During the Vietnam War, the nightly news—CBS, NBC, ABC–started with a “Body Count” and pictures of flag-draped coffins. TV news footage taken at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware constantly showing masses of coffins being unloaded from U. S. Air Force cargo planes. Such scenes overwhelmed masses of Americans. It painted graphic reality of war on TV screens in living-rooms of American people. There came a point, when such scenes were banned by the Pentagon (called The Dover Ban)—not because fewer young men died, but because it painted the ugly picture of war. They were grim reminders daily, of massive deaths of young military service personnel.
We celebrate Memorial Day this weekend; it is not a time when we thank our military personnel for their service—-we do that wonderfully November 11 on Veterans’ Day. Memorial Day is a time when we morn the death of each one who took the oath, and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Neither rank nor achievement is the focus. The focus is the giving that precious life. The Normandy cemetery is a stark reminder of the sacred sacrifice by soldiers and others who died making the world safe from tyranny.
I find it offensive that Memorial Day gets bombarded with the ballyhoo of store sale advertisements. Although it is typical of our captivity by a culture of commercializing every aspect of life—and death. Although that ship has sailed, it is not too late, reverently to observe Memorial Day with proper veneration. It does not require weeping, or maudlin attribution. A proper pause of appreciation for their sacrifice, and a renewed commitment to peace that honors and builds up human kind. Backyard Barbecues would not be a bad place to start. Back to the Scouts’ placing U. S. flags on graves. Couldn’t that effort expand, opening doors to fresh breaths of hope and joyful living?
Read In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae and you will find the breath we breathe for our fallen faithful “…as poppies blow/ Between the crosses, row on row…”
©Copyright Willis H. Moore 2024
I was stationed at Dover AFB from 1965 to 1968. Morale was fragile. Some suicidal tendencies were all around. I volunteered to be a tail gunner on a Huey. I even volunteered to go to Viet Nam. This got me a special request from the base commander. He wanted to know if I was some sort of a mercenary. I told him that I just wanted to get off that base. He told me, “ I have news for you, you are not going anywhere. My barrack’s was near the morgue. I volunteered to go to Lajes Field, Azores. No one else wanted to go. I even got to Rhein Mein, Germany. I did not escape the pain because I was sent there to take care of the survival equipment of the crews from my home base.
Thanks, Willis, for the timely reminder and for including the most poignant poem that I know of.
Thanks, Willis, for the timely reminder and for including the most poignant poem that I know of.