On this Memorial Day weekend let us celebrate the lives of brave men and women who fought for our Country. Soldiers gave their lives to a cause that was larger than they were, larger than they could ever be, but which they were an integral part of.
How do I honor these brave men and women? I never knew even one of them. They could have been some distant relatives or some friends of friends, but they weren’t anyone I knew or grieved about. How do I honor them?
Having listened to some Veterans who spent time in the service defending our Country, I was struck by their selflessness. They gave without thought of money, time or personal safety. They just gave as long as they needed to. Their passion united them. This was a cause they were willing to die for. It didn’t matter what their social standing was, their financial standing, race, color or creed. They were committed to giving their all. This was a cause for which they became nameless, “personless,” cogs in a wheel. Yes, some received medals of honor, but what is the value of a metal without your loved one? They became as one, filling whatever spot was necessary to get the job done, to make our Country a safe place to live.
Their commitment: the job wasn’t done until it was done. Many times they were wounded, came home and got better and then returned to the battlefield. Why? Because their job was not done and they were committed to seeing it through to the finish.
What was in the minds and hearts of those who gave their lives for our Country? How did they cope with loneliness, days and nights of sleeplessness, missing and needing those they loved: sweethearts, wives, children, parents. They lived without the comforts of life we appreciate on a daily basis, not knowing, but fearing that their lives would end without ever seeing their loved ones again. That’s loneliness!
What of their deprivation? Going days on end without the ability to take a shower, sleep in a comfortable bed, be warm, dry, clean and have one’s hunger satisfied. Even the smallest of creature comforts were often denied until the battle was over (and for some of them, eternally so).
What about fear—that icy gripping feeling that motivates one to superhuman feats in some instances and paralyzes to a scale of total incapacitation in others. Fear that those, our fallen brothers and sisters, knew every waking moment to the day of their death. That fear was a frequent if not constant companion, and yet one which they tolerated and oftentimes used to do what needed to be done.
This Memorial Day is a tiny payback to them. Today will be truly special because I hold in my heart a deep and abiding sense of gratitude to these brave men and women, along with the families they left behind, who provided us with the comfort and safety and freedom to allow us to live unfettered lives. I treasure your memory, your sacrifice, and I honor and thank you this Memorial Day!
With Gratitude for Your Sacrifice,
Dar
May 28th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hi Dar,
Such a powerful post! Thanks so much for reminding me of how grateful I am to the men and women who so unselfishly have given their lives so that I can live the life I choose to live.
We should certainly spend some time remembering them.
Debbie Stevens´s last blog ..The Picture of Success
May 28th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Beautifully written, Dar! Thanks for the great reminder of what our soldiers have done, and continue to do for us!
Lori
Lori Tisot´s last blog ..Is Your Twitter Account Protected?
May 28th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Darlene,
The words you say sum it up beautifully for many of us. Like you, I haven’t had close relatives who’ve served, and now I have two sons planning joining the Navy. That gives me an entirely new outlook on military service – I’ve always been grateful from a distance, now it is much closer to home.
Thank you,
Linda
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May 28th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
A very moving post Darlene. Here in Australia we just had our remembrance day and it never ceases to amaze me how emotional this day can be. War to me is so senseless and hard to fathom but these people had such courage and unquestionable faith in what they were doing that its incredibly commendable. That photo you have there is pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing this Darlene
Cheers,
Matt
May 28th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I am with you…I hold a great deal of admiration and honor for the brave men and women who fought for us. I know memorial day is specifically honoring WW2 vets…but I honor all. And I am thankful for each person who has given up so very much for my continued freedom. Thanks for sharing your thoughts once again in such a beautiful manner.
Blessings Darlene!
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May 30th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
An amazingly powerful post Darlene,
I have to doubt that anyone could read through and end up with dry eyes.
I certainly was not able to.
The gratitude due to these men and woman is imeasureable.
Thanks for reminding everyone.
To world Peace.
Toni
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:07 am
Hi Darlene,
Thank you for posting this. It’s a tribute to those who really sacrifice so much, and families too. That picture you posted says it all. Yet, we should honor them throughout the year and never forget what they do for us … ever.
June 2nd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Great post Darlene! It is amazing the sacrifices our servicemen and women make for this country. I like you am so grateful to them. Thanks for such a great post!
Angela´s last blog ..How to See Challenges As Opportunities
June 3rd, 2010 at 4:04 am
We must never forget those that have served and the ones that are serving. They help give us the freedoms that many take for granted.
Thank You for this wonderful Post.
Bill
Bill Hartman´s last blog ..Will the IPad Help You With Social Media
June 3rd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Darlene,
What a powerfully poignant post you have written. Thank you for reminding all of us about how lucky we are to live the way we live, even with financial struggles or health concerns or relationship problems. Most of us have a roof over our head, food on the table and lots of other comforts of life that we just take for granted.