I wrote four days ago because it was considered by law to be Memorial Day, but only for purposes of a three-day weekend. I still go with May 30th. At the end, there is a link to Echo Taps.
There is a debt, and it is one we can repay—but more on this later. If you don’t want to read this, click the link at the end. I will write one more time within a few days, when I get it finished, about the future of Memorial Day.
Spoiler Alert: It’s not good.
The land we today call the United States can trace its beginnings to 1607 with the establishment of a small settlement called Jamestown. In my opinion, the start date can be said to be July 4, 1776. Some would place it a little over a decade later, with the adoption of the Constitution, which is the correct date.
Leading up to the Revolutionary War, there were at least seven wars during that period. From the Revolutionary War to the present, this country has fought 12 major wars, including the War on Terror, also known as the Overseas Contingency Operation, if you prefer to be technically and politically correct, even if I don’t.
But that’s only part of the history. When we consider invasions, conflicts, expeditions, Indian Wars, occupations, and incidents in addition to wars, the number exceeds 80, each involving men and women who died. Left out are the Cold War and proxy wars.
I’ve never been in the military, but I do care about it. During my lifetime, this country has been involved in 22 engagements, resulting in the loss of life. My life began during the Korean War; some call it a conflict, and it continued until the American military finally left Afghanistan.
If I say with the inauguration of President Trump in January 2025, concluding what I believe was an American proxy war, we’re at peace, but it’s a tenuous one.
Essentially, there hasn’t been peace in my lifetime, even though it was promised by Neville Chamberlain one year before the beginning of WWII, which resulted in 60,000,000 or more deaths from 1939 to 1945. Keep Chamberlain in mind because I suspect he’ll come up later. You never know; I tend to do some of this stuff off the top of my head, like stream consciousnesses.
That’s a lot of sacrifice by many people. Just how much follows shortly. The sacrifice isn’t a shared one, however. I read a great deal of history. I know, and those older than me know, that the citizenry once made sacrifices for the war effort. A good example was during World War II.
But since 1945, the American people at home haven’t been called upon to do much, with a caveat. We send soldiers off to fight and die, but how much thought do we give it, and what do we do to assist? Unfortunately, not nearly enough. The caveat is families lose their sons and daughters, but my family didn’t.
Here’s a fact I hope some find startling: Including all deaths, both combat and non-combat, more than 1.6 million people have died in battle defending an ideal born in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.
Now, that number is like the national debt in two ways. One, the zeroes aren’t there. That number is 1,600,000. Second, it is a debt, not one of money, but one purchased with blood—not the blood of anyone reading this.
It is a debt that can be repaid, though. The families of those lost don’t get their child, sibling, spouse, or family back. But if we believe the ideal is worthy and worth the sacrifice, we repay it by living up to those beliefs and preserving our country’s freedom and liberty in memory of those who sacrificed so that we could. Think of it this way: You may not be reading this if those who died had chosen not to risk everything. More on this later.
To put it in perspective, the War Between the States resulted in 650 deaths per day for four years. In World War II, the number was about 300 per day. The War on Terror has a much lower number of deaths per day, less than two. Yet even that number carries weight.
The ultimate sacrifice has been great. If we add those who were wounded, the total is close to 3,000,000, and then some remain missing or unaccounted for. That number nearly equals the number of those who died in the Vietnam War.
As mentioned, Memorial Day was always observed on May 30 until Congress changed the date to a Monday to create a three-day weekend. Decoration Day, as it was initially known, could fall on any day of the week, but that changed decades ago to give Americans a long weekend, not to remember the dead, but for cookouts and sales, it seems. The latter is fine, provided you remember the first.
Since the law changed, it has fallen on May 30 fewer than ten times. I mean, it is a day to celebrate in a sense, though what we are celebrating are those who stared at and accepted death so that others would not have to. Think of it in terms of a celebration of life, perhaps, which seems to have replaced the more somber funeral.
As long as you remember this vital point, that others died so you may live to do these things, as I said, I’ll be okay with it. Well, not the shopping so much, but gathering with friends and family.
One of the most moving pieces of music ever written is “Taps.” It’s linked here, and I hope you will listen to it. Taps does not have words, but there are versions of it. My dad taught me them as a kid. It begins with, “Day is done, gone the sun…” While you listen, think about those 1.6 million men and women, and take a moment to say thank you for their sacrifice.
So, what can you do? Somewhere toward the beginning of this, I said to live life. The old saying “Many gave some, and some gave all” truly holds meaning. To not live in freedom is to dishonor those who gave all. Freedom carries a responsibility. Freedom is maintained by us, the people, through eternal vigilance.
Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” That’s not a political statement; it’s a fact. Freedom means holding the government accountable to the Constitution. Returning to Chamberlain, “peace in our time,” and the 60 million killed as a result of his appeasement—freedom means being willing to stand and fight for what’s right.
We’re not exactly facing the German war machine today, but some things are similar. Russia is taking, or attempting to take, territories in a similar manner. China is expanding its threat in the Pacific. Will either start a world war to achieve their ends? No, I don’t think so. We get into the concept of MAD, and if you don’t know what it means, shame on you and an F in history.
We have a volatile leader in North Korea, a real threat from Iran, and groups sponsored by it. Would he start a world war? Maybe, he’s a wildcard. What we do have, though, is Iran stating that jihad will not end until America is destroyed. Do I believe Iran would attempt this? Yes, I do. We have threats in the Middle East and Africa.
Are there terrorists out there that wish us harm? I believe there are. Can the latter two threats be stopped? Sure, if we are willing to stand against them as a people rather than preoccupy ourselves with the names of football teams, political correctness, wage debates, and social divisions. What truly defines us isn’t the color of our skin, our sex, origin, or ethnicity; it’s that we are Americans. Like it or not, we’re in this together.
By the way, I don’t say Happy Memorial Day. It’s a personal choice. It’s a somber day of remembrance when we pause to express our gratitude. I fail to see how death can be a happy event.
Thank you to anyone who took the time to read this. And now: Taps.
Echo Taps link: Lily Loose father daughter Echo Taps Arlington TN