Memorial Day

The weekend hasn't started yet and already holiday revelers are out on the roads getting ready to enjoy the long weekends. For the majority of us, Memorial Day conjures up a lot of images. I remember as a kid that it meant that the pool was finally open, we were that much closer to summer vacation; barbeque grills began to fire up with wonderful regularity. As I got older and began to work, Memorial Day still held a bit of same nostalgic enjoyment for me but there was also a bit of reflection on my part as well. While we may complain about the roads to the beach being overcrowded or that gas prices being high or that the holiday is only three days long, we must learn to temper our frustrations. If we truly think about the purpose of Memorial Day, these trivial frustrations shouldn't mean anything to us and we should remember those who are giving much more in service of their country.

Right now, in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world, men and women serving our nation in the armed forces are also commemorating Memorial Day but for them it is like any other day. What many people fail to realize, myself included at one point, is that while we may complain of getting only three days off, the men and women in uniform don't get very many if any days off while on duty. Serving in the military is a full time commitment and although they do have down times from work, there are no such things as weekends. While work may wind down a bit on the weekends elsewhere in the world where they may be deployed, in a war zone, they are 'at work' all the time. Just because it's a long weekend here doesn't mean that the enemy is taking time off to commemorate the holiday as well.

Whether you agree with the war or not, the day is not meant to build a politcal campaign, or make rhetoric that is utterly false yet proclaims to support the war and the troops, it is meant to honor those who have served this country and given their lives and continue to give their lives. In the war in Iraq, over 3,000 lives have been lost and while these soldiers may or may not believe in the validity of being over in Iraq, they do their duty and their jobs. Some people question the reason behind their fighting a war that no one wants, the simple reason is that they are doing what most of us working folks do during the week, their job. They may not agree with the fight but the can't refuse to do their jobs any more than you can tell your boss to stuff his report because you don't agree with it.

I'm sure most soldiers can think of thousands of other places they would prefer to be deployed; whether it is someplace warm and sunny or some place picturesque is beside the point, they serve when and where it is necessary. Despite the fact that the world is so much smaller these days thanks to the internet and other communications technology, the soldiers in the field seem as far away as ever. With efforts in place to maintain security and censorship for operational security reasons, soldiers aren't able to express all they feel about their experiences. It is a necessary thing but it only serves to frustrate those who are looking for outlets for their feelings.

What disappoints me the most is the way in which our politicians, all of them, are using the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere as politcal pawns in their games. I rarely feel a sense of genuine support for the troops and always look for the political angle that these senators and representatives may be trying to push. Perhaps my cynicism comes from having lived in Washington for so long, but it's true. From the President down to the most junior senator, all politicians use the troops as the springboard for their own agendas. "We should spend X amount of money because it's for the troops and Senator so-and-so doesn't want to." Statements like these unnerve me because given all the political speak, it basically amounts to the fact that they only want to push their own cause.

During Vietnam, because the need for troops was so high, the draft was implemented and the people spoke out because it directly affected them. Now that the draft has been shelved, those not directly affected by the war are almost indifferent to what's happening. Those who have volunteered or enlisted in the armed services are now seeing their tours extended above and beyond what they would normally serve and all because there aren't more volunteers lining up for the fight. The second World War was different. We were attacked and it was clear who the enemy was. These days the enemy is so carefully concealed that it's almost a guessing game as to who is and isn't the enemy. That being the case, why would anyone want to risk their life for meager pay with the possibility of being kept in harm's way longer than you would like?

For some it's because the military offers a chance for a better life after service, for others it is a challenge to be the best that they can be and for others still, it is the sense of wanting to give something back to their country. So while we enjoy our time off this weekend, take a moment to remember those who have already given their lives for our country and remember those who are still in harm's way and who put their lives on the line every day. Until the war affects us directly, we are very selfish in our outlook because it seems to be away from us or in another world, but when it does affect us, we realize the sacrifice these men and women are making and then the purpose of this holiday becomes clear. Remember them and honor them. They deserve it.