Today is Memorial Day. Across our land families will gather with close friends and relatives (myself included) to indulge in a BBQ’s and outdoor fun. As we prepared for this day I asked my wife an almost rhetorical question, “do we know anyone that has passed in battle.” Surprisingly we don’t have any known family that have died in a conflict that we know as far back as WWI.
The consciousness for the average american about war and its costs are almost nil. War isn’t at the top of the news cycle, the importance of victory and the threat of defeat are no longer at the tip of conversation. There is no great unifying enemy like defeating the Germans or Japanese. Even our almost conflict with the Russians is now back page news at best.
Dwight Eisenhower warned of a great “military-industrial complex” that would rise to threaten our nation. It seems, to me at least, that this great beast of capitalism is alive and well and its roar is present in all that we as a nation “do.” The constant drone of a never ending war that doesn’t impact the average American seems to have removed from our great land the cost and price of freedom.
I cannot put the significance of Memorial Day any better than this Excellent Commentary By Peter Collier
The above article is worth your time if only to remind you that we are free and a price was paid. I am reminded that I have the freedom to be a dialed in and engaged father because of those who serve, fight and often die (or worse) to protect my Suburban American Lifestyle.
If your family or “framily” has someone to remember on this day, please post in the comments.
…because of the brave.