Memorial Day 2008

Some thoughts this Memorial Day.

I remember my parents always referred to this day as "Decoration Day", a day for remembering those who have given their lives for this country. A day that was filled with parades, thankful people, and the waving of many flags. We would drive as a family through the cemetery of our small town and look at the many graves where a small American flag was placed to honor a soldier from some past war. It was always a day of greatest respect for the sacrifices made by men and women for our freedom. A day that always brought a lump in one's throat and tears to the eyes. Also a day that made a person proud to be an American.

Today I watched the placing of a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery by the President. I got those same feelings. Arlington is a hallowed place. The home of Robert E. Lee. The resting place for soldiers from the Civil War, the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, the Gulf War, and the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan. 300,000 soldiers are buried there, not all combat deaths, but all having served this country to ensure the freedoms we so often take for granted.

As I watched today I couldn't help but wonder how some citizens could hate this country, despise the military, refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, mock the National Anthem, desecrate the flag, and say they have never been proud to be an American. Amazing! How could one have any of these views and aspire to be Commander in Chief?

These people delude themselves into believing they are being patriots. WRONG - the patriots are those buried in Arlington under common crosses with an American flag placed at each grave; and those buried in thousands of cemeteries across this great land that have flags by their graves this day.