“That’s a big 10-4 on that 10-10 aqui.”
The above wisdom from my drunken acquaintance, Juan from college days, aside today is a day (or should be a day)for reflection. Memorial Day has its roots in post Civil War times but it was first proclaimed as a special day by “General Order No. 11,” issued by Gen. John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. And yes, he was the commander-in-chief.
A brief explanation. Military commanders with some type of large organization such as, say, the Pacific Fleet or military forces for a vast area were called commander-in-chiefs until the Bush administration stopped the practice in 2004. (In acronymic language, CINCPACFLT once meant Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet). Apparently the Bush administration declared there would be no chosen CINC before Gee Dubya so those heading large commands are now simply known as commanders.
Logan set May 30 as a day for decorating the graves of those:
” … who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land.”
The southern states refused to recognize the day until after the armistice was signed during World War I. In 1971 Congress made the last Monday in May as Memorial Day. And the rest is … history I suppose.
Memorial Day is seen by and large by many Americans simply as the beginning of the summer season. It is a time for going to the beach, cook-outs, getting hammered and whatever. I do think that 9/11 and our subsequent military adventures (and misadventures) have made Americans stop and think a little more about the sacrifices made by the nation’s warriors.
I have said it before and I will say it again: One may support the troops without supporting the war in Iraq. Many who say that cannot be done have never even served in the military — “Chickenhawks” as some are called. But I was a veteran so I know the type of sacrifice one makes just to enlist in the armed forces. You are issued a whole new mindset along with new uniforms. You will most likely not be home for many of the occasions you once celebrated such as Christmas. You may experience hardship. Your family may experience hardship. And yes, you may even be killed.
So I have an appreciation for those serving, even in a war that I think is the epitome of foolishness. I have to say that incidents such as the goings-on at Abu Ghraib and the recent alleged massacre of Iraqis by Marines make it harder for some who don’t support the war to support the troops. It shouldn’t be like that. But it is what it is.
Thus, I will not let some misguided ideologues tell me what is in my mind and in my heart on this day. I think about the many sacrifices that were made for the country. I would say that some of those sacrifices were for good causes and some for not-so-good causes. But then, even though war may sometimes be necessary I don’t see it as particularly being “good.”
“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.” — In Flanders Fields,
John McCrae, 1915.