Regarding Memorial Day

Carmel Beach  Photo by Sam Ryder

 

I've been trying to avoid thinking about this day. Memorial Day is an oft misunderstood holiday. Many believe that it's a time to thank a vet or a current service member, but, while that's never a bad thing to do, it's not really a day designed for that sort of celebration. Instead, Memorial Day (Decoration Day) was instituted to honor those who have fallen in service of their country.

Today, I affixed a Marine Corps flag to the side of my house. I hadn't done this previously because I was trying to bury the thought that my son is out there serving in the most dangerous of zones doing the most dangerous of things. It's hard to explain, but my pride and emotion got the better of me today. I had approached his deployment by buckling down and trying not to think about what he's doing. It seems to me that the best way to make it through this period is to become numb to it. But today, I allowed the emotion to get to me. I am so very proud of him for choosing a life that he could have easily avoided and shunted. He could have done anything with his VT college degree, but he chose early on that his country is worth personally defending. On this day, I lift my head and publicly ask God to protect him. All other days, I bow my head in quiet silence and pray that God deliver him safely home before Christmas.

I'm so very proud of my daughter-in-law for her service in the Army. She's already safely returned from her first deployment with another in her sights. I can only imagine how hard these deployments are on their young marriage. 

These wars are painful. They aren't easy. They aren't simple black and white. The brave soldiers who have given their lives deserve remembrance at the very least. Each of them believed in service before self. Each of them had hopes, desires, and plans. Each of them gave everything they had. Memorial Day, to me, is a unique day. I'll be glad when it goes away so I can lower my head and plow through the next 7 months.