The Aerie
On this Memorial Day, let's do our best to remember the soldiers who are fighting right this very moment over in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whatever their reasons for being there, they ARE there, and they are facing dangers and sacrifices which most of us, particularly non-veterans, never will understand.
Let's remember the support personnel, who like the soldiers face risks, and who like the soldiers are apart from their families day after day, month after month.
Let's remember those left behind, who fear daily the loss of their loved one, the knock at the door, and yet day by day continue to work and live and raise children despite the terror.
Let's remember the grieving, who have lost a family member forever.
Let's remember those for whom this has been too much, those whose marriages have failed under the stress, whose minds and hearts have been scarred, maybe forever.
Let's remember those who have transformed their grief into something beautiful, whose grief honors their lost loved ones.
Let's remember those who have transformed their grief into a determination to end this war.
Let's remember the wounded. They will be our colleagues and neighbors and friends in the coming years. They will be scarred, maimed and disabled. They will need our friendship and our respect.
Let's remember the Iraqi and Afghani civilian dead. The people who have died in this war without taking up arms.
Let's remember their families, who will carry grief forever.
Let's remember our soldiers, each and every one lost. Their names are rarely spoken. Their coffins are secreted home and slipped quietly into the ground as if their deaths are something to fear. They continue to sacrifice even after they have given everything in service.
Let's remember who the people are who are responsible for all this grief. Let's remember that they decided to lie to start this war. Let's remember that they who are already vastly wealthy seek to further enrich themselves off this war like vultures. Like maggots. Let's remember that they will seek to divide us, to distract us, to discourage and dismay us with their lies and their power.
Finally, let's remember that this is still a democracy, and that we still have power, each and every one of us, no matter how the more-powerful seek to take it, or to scare you out of using it. Let's remember that we can hold those responsible for this grief and this tragedy accountable, with our words, with our actions, and eventually with our votes.
Let's remember that we're Americans, and that our loved ones have sacrificed and died so that we would remain Americans.
Then let's do our duty as Americans and take our nation back from those who have wrought this tragedy.
Posted by Albatross at May 29, 2006 1:14 PM | TrackBack