Veteran's Days: Field of Flags
Well, I was wrong: Veteran's Day is turning out to be a big deal at work. A flag for each American soldier that has been killed during the whole Iraq/Afghanistan conflict from 2001 was placed on the green. Over 6,000 flags were there. A speaker, complete with an official university podium, stood in front of the library, reading off names with a sign next to him saying that the list would take close to eight hours to finish reading. Eight hours of names listing the dead in chronological order.
I was walking by on my way to get lunch before work as I looked over at the field of flags. I shut off my music, took of my hat, and looked and listened as I walked by. The few that were there that early in the morning were silent. Remembering.
So, I take it back: it is a big deal when confronted with the memory. If we forget, if we decide not to remember every day, we take for granted what those have died for. Every other day of the year we can be normal citizens, eating our Big Macs and drinking our Coca Cola drinks, but today we need to remember.
I personally know of no one who has died, or been a casualty, in the most recent conflict so, instead, I remember my grandfather. A WWII POW, he was in captivity for years after spending only a few months in the Army during the African campaign and into Italy. When they liberated him from captivity, he was 95 pounds and was, essentially, sent home to die. He survived and was one of the best men I've ever known. He died a few years ago due to lung cancer but he is still my hero.
RIP Grandpa and to all those who have served and paid for not just America's freedom, but for those of others as well. You will never be forgotten.
I was walking by on my way to get lunch before work as I looked over at the field of flags. I shut off my music, took of my hat, and looked and listened as I walked by. The few that were there that early in the morning were silent. Remembering.
So, I take it back: it is a big deal when confronted with the memory. If we forget, if we decide not to remember every day, we take for granted what those have died for. Every other day of the year we can be normal citizens, eating our Big Macs and drinking our Coca Cola drinks, but today we need to remember.
I personally know of no one who has died, or been a casualty, in the most recent conflict so, instead, I remember my grandfather. A WWII POW, he was in captivity for years after spending only a few months in the Army during the African campaign and into Italy. When they liberated him from captivity, he was 95 pounds and was, essentially, sent home to die. He survived and was one of the best men I've ever known. He died a few years ago due to lung cancer but he is still my hero.
RIP Grandpa and to all those who have served and paid for not just America's freedom, but for those of others as well. You will never be forgotten.