Memorial Day Tribute

A common perspective about this time of year has it that summer officially arrives on Memorial Day weekend. But I don't consider these two events to be one in the same.  As a veteran of the United States Navy, I consider Memoiral Day to be a day of reflection and thanks to all those who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for love of country.  We are currently a nation at war, although one would not know it by reading newspapers and most popular media outlets.  Maybe America is "war weary."  Maybe America is oblivious.  I wish America would offer its thanks just the same.  On the bright side, I have seen instances where the public has approached our men and women in uniform to offer their sincere appreciation for their sacrifices.  There in fact is SOME awareness out there.  To be clear, this posting is not intended to be self-congratulatory.  I am certainly proud to have served and I am grateful that I was not harmed while spending time off the Beirut, Lebanon during the conflict there in 1983.  On October 23, 1983 241 U.S. Marines were killed at the Marine Compound at Beirut Internation Airport when a suicidal bomber penetrated the base and detonated a truck full of TNT in the lobby of the Marine barracks there. Havinng witnessed this first-hand, the men who died there are always in my mind.

This website offers a terrific insight into the origin of Memorial Day:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html.

On Monday morning members of Fred Hancock American Legion Post 19 in Renton, WA will gather at the local library alongside the Cedar River to fire a salute to our departed comrades.  We have lost more than a few Legionnaires this year, as many World War II and Korean War veterans continue to pass from the scene.  We will then move up to Olivet Cemetery to pay tribute at Fred Hancock's grave.  Fred was a youngster from Renton who lost his life in a personnel transport ship in the English channel during World War I, when a German submarine deposited a torpedo in the ship's side.  A third, more formal ceremony takes place an hour later at Evergreen Cemetery, when members from all Armed Forces and local police and firemen gather to remember our departed veterans to celebrate our freedom in a more formal affaiir.  Finally, a fourth gathering happens at the downtown Renton military memorial at mid-day.

It's not too much to ask that we all stop and ponder the selfless sacrifice of all those veterans, past and present, who have died for America in the midst of our picnic gatherings. 

That's what Memorial Day means to me.