I was raised in South Dakota next to Ellsworth Airforce Base, my father was in the Navy before I was born and both my parents were civilian employees in the Air Force for many years. I have cousins that served in Iraq.
On Memorial Day, I honestly struggle with the whole idea of war and the reasons why so many people from every country die to protect their land and/or beliefs. It seems so often to be so unnecessary. And still, I am incredibly impressed with the courage and dedication of those who put their lives on the line for our Ideals. I am grateful for their service to those American Ideals we share and the risk they willingly take for me. This is an important distinction that I consider today.
There are people who wield the military, the politicians and people in power whose agendas range far and wide. If ever there is a judgment to be decided by history about the “justness” of a military engagement, it is rightly assigned to these people.
And then, there are those who serve IN the military who serve from a genuine belief in our American Ideals. Their voluntary service belies their fundamental trust in their superior’s motives – whether or not that trust is justified.
On Memorial Day we remember those in this latter category who serve and who have sacrificed for OUR SHARED Ideals – even as we may disagree with the objectives for which they were employed.
In 1868, General John Logan issued a Memorial Day Order that said:1
“Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation’s gratitude – the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”
Memorial Day is a fine time to offer direct assistance to a military family that has lost a loved one or contribute to a charity that does the same.
We support and appreciate the work of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
The post Grateful for Their Service to the American Ideals appeared first on Happiness Dividend Blog – Personal Finance, Education and Investment Guidance.