I was a child of the Greatest Generation born during WWII. My dad was fighting in the Navy during my birth and early years. My uncle fought in Korea. My nephew was in Afghanistan. We called this day Decoration Day when I was a kid and went to put flowers on the graves. Those who came home had survived but were greatly altered. Today the president spit on all of them and turned his back.
Memories of individuals who revealed their heroic selves are good memories to have on Memorial Day. Memories of politicians cutting VA benefits and calling POW’s “Losers” are not good memories to have on Memorial Day.
I have a different take on Memorial Day. I never accepted the Viet Nam War and the thousands sent to fight and die there for no good reason. I also never accepted the illegal invasion of Afghanistan and our attempts to install a corrupt government. And I never accepted our illegal invasion of Iraq and the more than 100,000 innocent men, women, and children who were killed by our "Smart Bombs".
So when I reflect on these horrific wars and the soldiers who died, I view them a lambs brought to the slaughter for the sake of a few corrupt politicians. And I cringe.
Thank you, Elliot. Your post today resonates so deeply for me. My uncle served in WW2 and always refused to talk about his experiences. Despite that, my mother's pride in her brother's service taught me an important lesson in the meaning of serving one's country. I had great-uncles who served in WW1 and in the Korean War. One of my cousins served in Vietnam, as did friends, and they came back damaged in various ways. The cost of promoting and protecting democracy is high, and I think all of us who value democracy and the rule of law, regardless of age, must step up now to insist and support all efforts to reinstate the principles and laws of the Constitution.
Very well said. I hate seeing history removed of veterans who gave all but were not white male. Hopefully a lot of it is saved somewhere for the next generations.
Beautifully written. None of us could have imagined where we find ourselves today. We will step up to protect our democracy in whatever way we can. I’m a Boomer so I make phone calls, send postcards and attend protests with my trusty rolling walker. My first protest was during the Viet Nam war, and here we are, back making signs and chanting. How very sad and how very necessary.
Thank you, Elliot. I am a great deal older than you, I was born the day of Franklin Roosevelt's first inauguration 3/4/1933. So, I have real memories of the Great Depression and WW2. Since I was born in Canada WW2 began in September 1939. I wrote to my Dad's younger brother who was a medic in WW2. He survived the torpedoing and sinking of a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. In WW2, we were the 'good guys'. We were also the 'good guys' in Bosnia and in our support of Ukraine both of which were a relief from Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq where we were not on the side of the rightous. In addition to those men and women who fought in all our wars, right or wrong, I also pay tribute to those Presidents who stood up for all the citizens of this great Country of ours, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Barrack Obama, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. Hopefully from 2028 on we will again have Presidents who lead all of us, not just the corrupt.
I served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. While I was there, my buddies constantly asked me, "Why are we here?" Unlike stateside, where dissatisfaction might lead someone to leave and look for something else, we were in Vietnam, and nothing could change that except for injury, death, or the end of our tour. One principle remained constant: "Do your best." Underperforming could mean that someone else might not make it home. We were soldiers, and whether we were drafted or enlisted, we were all in this together, relying on one another to do our best.
We all have family members that have served and we all see different issues. 3 of my relatives came back off center and 1 with PTSB because he did need to kill on seal team like missions. The health services provided to our retired military are shameful - and maybe worse the Vets are respectful to their poor quality commander in chief. We all are to blame for not speaking up.
I was a child of the Greatest Generation born during WWII. My dad was fighting in the Navy during my birth and early years. My uncle fought in Korea. My nephew was in Afghanistan. We called this day Decoration Day when I was a kid and went to put flowers on the graves. Those who came home had survived but were greatly altered. Today the president spit on all of them and turned his back.
Memories of individuals who revealed their heroic selves are good memories to have on Memorial Day. Memories of politicians cutting VA benefits and calling POW’s “Losers” are not good memories to have on Memorial Day.
I have a different take on Memorial Day. I never accepted the Viet Nam War and the thousands sent to fight and die there for no good reason. I also never accepted the illegal invasion of Afghanistan and our attempts to install a corrupt government. And I never accepted our illegal invasion of Iraq and the more than 100,000 innocent men, women, and children who were killed by our "Smart Bombs".
So when I reflect on these horrific wars and the soldiers who died, I view them a lambs brought to the slaughter for the sake of a few corrupt politicians. And I cringe.
Thank you, Elliot. Your post today resonates so deeply for me. My uncle served in WW2 and always refused to talk about his experiences. Despite that, my mother's pride in her brother's service taught me an important lesson in the meaning of serving one's country. I had great-uncles who served in WW1 and in the Korean War. One of my cousins served in Vietnam, as did friends, and they came back damaged in various ways. The cost of promoting and protecting democracy is high, and I think all of us who value democracy and the rule of law, regardless of age, must step up now to insist and support all efforts to reinstate the principles and laws of the Constitution.
Very well said. I hate seeing history removed of veterans who gave all but were not white male. Hopefully a lot of it is saved somewhere for the next generations.
Thank you for a thoughtful reminder of the significance of Memorial Day.
Thank you Elliot. I will be in DC ON June 6 for the Veterans United Rally.
by Archibald MacLeish
Nevertheless they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them?
They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say, We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say, We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say, We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say, Our deaths are not ours: they are yours: they will mean what you make them.
They say, Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say: it is you who must say this.
They say, We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us.
Thank you, Elliot. We have much to live up to.
Beautiful post.
So well said. Thank you.
So moving. Thank you. 🙏🏻
Beautifully written. None of us could have imagined where we find ourselves today. We will step up to protect our democracy in whatever way we can. I’m a Boomer so I make phone calls, send postcards and attend protests with my trusty rolling walker. My first protest was during the Viet Nam war, and here we are, back making signs and chanting. How very sad and how very necessary.
Thank you, Elliot. I am a great deal older than you, I was born the day of Franklin Roosevelt's first inauguration 3/4/1933. So, I have real memories of the Great Depression and WW2. Since I was born in Canada WW2 began in September 1939. I wrote to my Dad's younger brother who was a medic in WW2. He survived the torpedoing and sinking of a hospital ship in the Mediterranean. In WW2, we were the 'good guys'. We were also the 'good guys' in Bosnia and in our support of Ukraine both of which were a relief from Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq where we were not on the side of the rightous. In addition to those men and women who fought in all our wars, right or wrong, I also pay tribute to those Presidents who stood up for all the citizens of this great Country of ours, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, Barrack Obama, and Joseph R. Biden Jr. Hopefully from 2028 on we will again have Presidents who lead all of us, not just the corrupt.
Dear Elliot,
I served in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. While I was there, my buddies constantly asked me, "Why are we here?" Unlike stateside, where dissatisfaction might lead someone to leave and look for something else, we were in Vietnam, and nothing could change that except for injury, death, or the end of our tour. One principle remained constant: "Do your best." Underperforming could mean that someone else might not make it home. We were soldiers, and whether we were drafted or enlisted, we were all in this together, relying on one another to do our best.
So beautifully said! It is our collective memories that we share and in doing so we keep them alive. WE can not forget.
We all have family members that have served and we all see different issues. 3 of my relatives came back off center and 1 with PTSB because he did need to kill on seal team like missions. The health services provided to our retired military are shameful - and maybe worse the Vets are respectful to their poor quality commander in chief. We all are to blame for not speaking up.
Thank you so much for posting this beautiful essay. Very touching!