A Memorial Day Message

My wife and I visited a half-size replica of the Vietnam War Memorial yesterday (The Wall that Heals) in our home town as part of our Memorial Day observance. Even in its reduced size, the memorial is a painful, poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by too many soldiers once reviled and forgotten by America's most divisive war where returning vets were denied even the dignity of their country's collective gratitude for their service and sacrifice. I was but a child during that war which ended before I graduated from High School. But even then I could not understand the outright disdain and outright hatred shown our returning heroes for their service, their sacrifice and the countless examples of heroism during an unpopular war and a country divided as in no other time in our history, save perhaps for the present.

For Vietnam vets, acknowledgement and gratitude has come much too late and given much too grudgingly. That does not diminish their service, their heroism or their sacrifice. It diminishes only us--those who benefit from their sacrifice and returned only scorn for the freedom attempted to be purchased with their blood. Vietnam was a foolish, poorly executed war. It caused us to hemorrhage blood and treasure for a decades-long battle with no defined endgame and forced our men in women in uniform to fight a war with hands tied behind their backs by politicians for whom maintaining the status quo was more important than winning and for whom nearly 60,000 American lives were acceptable loses.

Vietnam is on my mind not only because of the traveling memorial, but because it is the best example of the worst treatment of returning heroes to date. Notwithstanding, the debt we owe to every soldier who laid down his/her life in service of country is the same; its value is neither diminished not enhanced based on the popular opinion of the value or wisdom of the wars in which they fought. The values for which they fought are always the same: country, honor, freedom. Every soldier who puts on the uniform and goes off to war in answer to the nation's call deserves our thanks, our support, and our admiration. Every soldier who has laid down his or her life for our country has paid for the freedom we enjoy with the most precious of coins. Only dishonorable ingrates blinded by political ideology can fail to see that. To honor the fallen and their families is not the same as honoring war. Hate war but love the warrior. Criticize foolish politicians who get us into unwise wars--that is fair and honorable, and both our right and duty as citizens of a free country. But honor, cherish and support the hardships endured and sacrifices made by all of our warriors--the ones who come back healthy and strong, the ones who comeback scarred and the ones who come back physically or psychologically broken. With time, support and the assistance they deserve and have painfully earned,  they too can be helped to heal and adapt to the limitations their sacrifice has forced upon them. Limbs, mobility, cognitive ability, speech and other attributes may be missing or impaired, but not their spirit or resourcefulness, not their heroism, and never their value to the country they love and which owes them a debt it can never fully repay. For those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for the Gold Star families they left behind, let us express our gratitude, offer our prayers and provide what support we can within our individual circumstances. We can never forget their sacrifice or repay the debt of honor we owe them. May God bless them all.

Fly the flag today. Remember the ones who died that she may never touch the ground. See their faces draped in glory and hear their voices in the fluttering of our flag. Remember them. Remember them. Remember them.

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My brother in law is a (retired) quiet soldier. He never talks about missions or experiences.  But a few years ago he mentioned in passing one mission in which a special forces brother-in-arms was killed. Shortly thereafter I wrote a sonnet about the experience that I think is appropriate as a tribute to one of too many unknown soldiers and unsung heroes.

Death of a Quiet Soldier

Behind enemy lines you gave your life,

The risks you knew and embraced willingly,

Red, black and green berets fought by your side,

And brought your body back to family.

Later in a ritual of their own,

They would name a field airport in your name,

And honor you, your brothers, far from home,

Their memory now your eternal flame.

I do not know your rank, your name, your face,

I only know that I am in your debt,

Who for your family can take your place?

Our debt to them we must never forget.

The freedom I enjoy comes thanks to you,

And all who serve with honor, proud and true.

(From Of Pain and Ecstasy: Collected Poems  -- Victor D. Lopez)