Why Is Memorial Day, A Day To Remember, But Not Grieve?

2015-05-24T18:41:35-04:00

To You From Failing Hands We Throw The Torch
JD Pendry | May 24, 2015
Memorial Day

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton Jr.

In Flanders Fields
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, 1872-1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies blow
In Flanders fields.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 6:45 PM

2015-05-24T18:45:42-04:00

May the fallen rest in peace. May the nation be worthy of their sacrifice.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made May 24 at 2015 9:01 PM

2015-05-24T21:01:31-04:00

- Just a guess but we should remember and honor otherwise we as a society will forget.
- The price of forgetting is that a current generation will not step forward when needed in the numbers and the quality that will be needed.
- I see many indicators that America is on the road towards forgetting including but not limited to the following:
- Memorial Day used to be a day to take a knee and attend a local Memorial Day event. Now it seems to be another sales holiday and vacation weekend.
- The draft had problems but at least it served as a forcing function for members of the society to contribute. The all volunteer Army has had many positive benefits but one down side is a widening gulf between those who serve (1%) and those who do not (99%).
- Generationally I am seeing a younger generation more concerned about themselves than they are about society. This attitude carries long term negative risks for the nation.
- Educationally, I am seeing a younger generation not being properly educated as to both the rights and the responsibilities of a citizen. Seems like a lot of people know only a warped version of their "rights" and have a hard time delineating even one of their responsibilities (be a good citizen, vote, pay taxes, etc).
- Don't mean to turn this into a rant but I see all the above as tying into why it is important to properly remember those who died in service to our country.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 25 at 2015 1:33 AM

2015-05-25T01:33:27-04:00

Awesome tribute. Those who came and have gone before should never be far from our thoughts. Many have sacrificed their lives that we may live free and enjoy what they no longer can. God bless them all, RIP Brothers and Sisters enjoy the rest you have so richly earned, may you awaken to the peace you so deeply wanted.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 3:46 PM

2015-06-01T15:46:50-04:00

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton Jr.