Memorial Day

Coming from a military family, today really does stand out for us.  It’s a day for remembering everyone that served, is serving or who is training to serve.  It’s also the first Memorial Day since P retired.  No, he didn’t do the parade thing.

Today, I remember the relatives that have crossed over:

My grandfather, H.A., my grandfather Leslie, my father John, my oldest brother, Matthew and my second oldest brother, Mark.  Even though I still talk to them pretty regularly (particularly in traffic), I do miss them.

I remember that I still have family serving:

My brother Luke, my brother John Jr., my brother Stephen, my brother Peter and my brother Paul.   Iactually don’t hear from this set that often.  I think I talk to the ones that have crossed over more than the ones that are still with me?  Strange.

While I believe that our time in Iraq has passed and that we should come home, I fully support the troops, the support staff and everyone else connected with it and the job they are trying to do.  Not everyone is willing to sign on the dotted line, step up and try to make the world a better place.  A lot of people are content to sit back and critize those that have.  While everything our military does may not be the right thing at the end of the day, at least they are trying.

I don’t believe that war solves anything. In fact, if you look at history, it hasn’t solved anything ever.  For instance, the current middle east situation.  The arab nations want the jewish nation gone.  They are still fighting a war that was fought, lost and won, over thousands of years ago.  If people can’t learn to let go and move on, then war will always be the solution that is not a solution.

People are claiming years and years and generations later that they are owed something from something that happened hundreds or at least a hundred years ago.  When did the sons of the fathers become responsible for what the fathers did?  Am I responsible for a death that my great-great-great-great grandfather caused?  Is there a statute of limitations on this stuff?  If there is what is it?

So, on Memorial Day I remember those that stepped up and tried.  I remember those that tried and lost and had to reform, regroup and move on.  I think of those that are trying.  I also feel sorrow for those that just can’t move on with their lives and find happiness somehow.