MEMORIAL DAY

I shot this image at the World War Two Memorial at the mall in D.C.

(Click on the image to enlarge)

Time goes by and change becomes the only thing that one can count on. War has also changed, not only in scope, but also in cultural perspective. World War Two was so intertwined with the everyday citizen’s life, as everyone was related to, or knew someone who was in the war. Such closeness brought support and loyalty that has no peer in our history. It gave life to towns like North Platte Nebraska, where the citizens voluntarily organized a canteen at the railroad station to feed the troops on the way to war. They feed over six million troops out of pocket and without government assistance until the war ended. Troops were treated well upon their return, with the GI bill helping to build Suburban USA after the war.

Today, many citizens are not as personally connected and therefore not as well versed on the mission now or before. The political environment is also so different. History is not taught in such great detail with survey courses dominating the educational landscape. This is part of the reason that Memorial Day’s impact is waning with less participation and appreciation. The veterans of World War Two are leaving us at a fast pace; they were the standard by which to judge how to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Korean and Vietnam vets do an honorable job as well, with the huge Rolling Thunder rally in D.C. every year. Over 600,000 motorcycles show up for this event that starts in California and ends at the Vietnam Wall!

MEMORIAL DAY

The cliché is all about the flags and crediting all who sacrificed for every right and amendment in the constitution. The truth is less complicated; they fought for their country and died for their buddies, and the American Way, and as such are a personal perspective of each soldier who made such choices. Most of the time choice was not an option, it was instantaneous action or lack thereof; or just plain being in the wrong place, or the right place depending again on subjective perception—this is war! In any scenario they made the ultimate sacrifice and have earned the respect to be remembered and honored.

Today, some folks who have never sacrificed anything for anyone only think of this day as a day off of work. You over there still fight, even for such folks. This is what separates us from them … we fight and sometimes die for those so disrespectful to have the right to be so…

May you all have a great Day, and KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN…

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania