And for the Memorial Day Program - 2008 in Galesville, this is the address I gave, although many did not hear it because the microphone quit working... which is maybe a good thing. But I thought I would share it with you anyway, even if it becomes a little strange to put what you believe down on paper.
It’s Memorial Day. The one day a year specifically set aside to remember, reflect, and honor the fallen ….those who gave their life fighting and defending our country, and the freedom and values we treasure, and often times take for granted.
When Hank first asked me to speak, I said “No” and gave him a list of individuals to contact. But then he called back and asked again….and so “here I am. Wishing that I had something profound and memorable to say.
I never served in the armed forces, nor have I lost a brother, a son, a father, or spouse in the line of duty. Dad was in the army in World War II but spent most of that time in the hospital here in the United States. I do qualify, however, as a daughter of the American Revolution and have relatives that have served in many wars…
But Hank didn’t know any of this … so I don’t think that’s why I was asked. I have to admit to myself that I was asked probably because I’m old, one of the old residents of our community.”
I am guessing that some of you that know me are waiting for historical insights on Memorial Day, how it started just shortly after the Civil War, how it was originally Decoration Day, why it became Memorial Day, how it became a national holiday in 1971…but I chose not to do that. And I’m not going to go through the statistics, the numbers, the wars fought, the deaths…though they have been many.
The reason for the day is to pay tribute and honor to the men and women who have served this country so valiantly, some giving their lives on the battle field, others surviving by the grace of providence.
. As long as I can remember, Decoration Day, or Memorial Day as we now call it, was a time to do in our family. For decades, we spent the time leading up to Decoration Day at Decorah Prairie Cemetery. Mowing, trimming, it had to be just right….I can still see my Mom with those hand clippers trimming around all the tombstones, so it would look perfect. It was one time there were no shortcuts. And I watched things change from the reel mower, to the power mower, to the self-propelled mower (what a treat that was, to just hang on and not have to push), and then the riding mower. You could be done in a day, except for the trimming. And then the “weed eater” came along, what a true blister saver that was. … and so it went. We knew the graves of the Veterans and heard stories about them.
But I think it takes a lifetime to comprehend the sacrifice of the Veteran, because when you’re little, everyone’s old.. and when you’re young… It’s different. You feel the loss, but I still don’t think I quite understood the value.
As I was thinking about today and reflecting on what I might say, I began to cry. It was almost over-powering realizing that human beings I didn’t even know, would never hear their name, gave their life for our country, our freedom, my freedom. Liberty, Freedom and Justice for all of us.
They didn’t die so I could live to support ‘their political candidate’, they didn’t die so I could live to go to ‘their church or denomination’, they didn’t die so I could vote for the referendum they supported.
They gave their life that I might be able to stand for whatever I believe…I can support any politician I choose, it doesn’t matter if I am for or against it, whatever “it” is …as the song goes…”Some gave all, and all gave some” …Protecting and defending the rights for all of us….the freedom to be, to worship, to speak, to write, to disagree.
All of that, we could have lost it all… if it were not for the fallen, the brave, the courageous, those that served.
It almost seems too little to take just one day a year to pay honor and remember them…. lest we forget. You see, Freedom for all has never been Free. The cost is horrendous.
On this day, we need to not only remember, but we need to draw on their courage, their bravery, their determination that the sacrifice they made, and their families gave, will never be in vain.
And I’m not talking about war, or going to war…. I’m talking about character, resolve, heart… recognizing what they already knew ,,,, that in order to have Liberty and Freedom… the right to speak, to have opinions, to believe in something, to travel, to move, …our neighbor, everyone in this great land of ours, has to have that same right, that same freedom…or none of us are free. We lose it all.
And so today, we join together as a community to cherish the memory of the brave, the courageous, the fallen…… and treasure the Liberty and Freedom and Justice that they died for….Lest we forget
