Memorial Day should be a solemn commemoration of those who had their lives cut short in defense of freedom. Critics will say that not everyone who died in a war was of sterling character and should be lifted up as heroes. I agree. God looks at the heart. Yet it is important to stop and consider the overall picture. Would we have a nation today that still strives toward the ideal of a properly ordered liberty—liberty with responsibility, not license to do whatever we please—without the sacrifice of many who understood that principle?
Those are the soldiers I honor today. Those are the ones we should seek to emulate and pass on their stories to the next generation. Even if we may criticize some of our nation’s military activity, far more often than not, America sought to liberate others and hand off the torch of freedom in other parts of the world. World War II rid the world of evil totalitarians, and all the wars associated with the Cold War were fought to remove the stain of communism. Our latest wars, controversial as they may be to some, are an attempt to stand up to the evil of radical Islamists.
So, yes, we should honor those who have served and died.
One would think the Veterans Administration would be in the forefront of serving those who have suffered for their country. The latest administration scandal, though, has revealed a callous disregard for injured servicemen:
Sadly, this is a reflection of the man at the top, who always has grand words to offer and little else:
Bill Clinton famously—or rather infamously—once stated he despised the military. The only saving grace in that was his age at the time; I think he was a college student seeking to avoid military service during Vietnam when he uttered that sentiment. Our current leader not only displayed that attitude in his youth but has maintained it throughout his life:
This is also the president who sought to close the WWII Memorial to veterans of that war during a phony government shutdown. If veterans, and those presently in the military, show disdain for their commander in chief, there may be a good reason for it:
Let’s make sure this day is a conscious effort to remember those who have died on our behalf, and on behalf of many in other countries as well. Let’s dedicate this day to them.