For me, it is recognition to not only people who have died while serving but a testament to everyone who has served. Period. Or what I like to consider my thank you to those willing to go and do what I am unwilling to go and do. I love my country especially the very freedoms it gives us; freedom of religion, education, residence. This is the same freedom which allows people to openly criticize our government and our leaders. Criticism that in other countries would earn you beatings or life in an underground prison.
These are freedoms paid for by other people. Love my country? Yes. Willing to suit up and die for it? Wait a minute. I think we all want to think we would do it. But its easy to say that from the comfort of my living room. Hundreds of thousands of men and women have committed to serving. And many of them so young they have likely never left home, lived on their own, had sex, or had a legal cocktail before. And many of them sign up knowing what kind of environment they will be shipped off to in the very near-term. I am sure some of them needed Superman t-shirts too.
This photo is from Boston Commons this weekend. I found it stunning.
Thank you to not only everyone who signed the dotted line but to their families as well who surely endured trials during the absence. Proud to be an American? Always.
Have a gorgeous day.
7 comments:
Amen!
And that photo is impressive!
I think you find your answer to "willing to suit up and die for it" in the reaction every time the phrase "institute a national draft" enters the news cycle.
Those that do enter the military are a special sort indeed.
Happy Memorial Day.
Such a powerful image. We send our children to fight wars. We should send our Congress. Then let's see how fast we get peace.
Actually JennyMac except for times of draft but including the overall population in all American wars in total less than 15% of the population has ever served. Which is why the current congress thinks it's ok to gut the VA budget even though there are more Iraq/Afghanistan veterans in need of services. You know those damned entitlement programs are just stealing too much money from defense contractors. That is who and what we truly are memorializing, not the war dead...they are dead, the dearth of profit for the military/industrial complex.
As a veteran and a Detroiter I say fuck them and their platitudes of patriotism when they now refuse to care for them who sent someone elses child off to war.
I agree with injaynesworld....send Congress. And the House of Representatives. I think they all need to know what it's like.
This is so very true. I have some older family members who used to serve in the 442nd.
As a Japanese-American its thanks to their sacrifices that I have the rights I have today.
And thanks to those who serve currently, we can continue to have those rights.
The picture is awesome.
I still think its stupid that the legal drinking age in the US is 21 when an 18 year old can be sent to fight for their country. They are to be considered men and women in those circumstances but not when it comes to a social drink.
Makes no sense to me.
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