How Do You Honor the Fallen Soldier? Give Them Your Memorial Moment.
Posted: Tuesday, May 19, 2009
by Jeff Brown
Inner Projection
This is the month of independence, freedom, sacrifice, the hope and inspiration of the human spirit. To get a feel for its diversity, its importance, here is a list of holidays and observances for this Month of the Soldier.
1: Loyalty Day, 1: Law Day, 3: World Press Freedom Day, 4: Rhode Island Independence Day (RI), 5: Cinco de Mayo, 7: National Day of Prayer, 8: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War, 8: 10: Confederate Memorial Day (SC), 10: Confederate Memorial Day (NC), 10: 'Confederate Memorial Day' observed (SC), 11: 'Confederate Memorial Day' observed (NC), 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day, 16: Armed Forces Day, 25: Memorial Day, 25: African Liberation Day, 29: International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
It is a month that speaks to the immigrant who comes here from oppressed countries: economic and political. It speaks to those 50% who make less than $3 a day. It speaks to the 90% who do not have the bare minimum Americans so readily enjoy: one car, one apartment. It speaks to the 94% who make less than the 6% who live in the United States of America. It speaks to the Jew, the Muslim, the Christian, the Buddhist, the Armenian, the Italian, the Colombian, the Sudanese, the Navajo, the woman, the child, the man.
But what of the soldier who has laid down his and her life? Have we honored them? How do we do so?
According to Norman Douglas, he tells us, "You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertising." How do we honor the fallen soldier, with a sale?
How do we honor those who fought hard in The American Revolution, The Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq . . . disregarding politics?
Do we honor them with mere self-indulgence? Ignorance? Arrogance?
"I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain." John Adams
Do we honor our dead for just one day? A day in which we indulge in games, sport, activities, hamburgers, hot dogs and beer with little thought as to the many who have died, sacrificed, overcame fear to provide for us this day?
Do we take a moment and pray? Give a prayer of thanks? A message sent to their resting place for them to have and hold to enhance their rest to enhance their peace.
What are you going to do this Month of Months? This month of the foot soldier.
Put your heart in prison for a moment to feel their sacrifice. Imagine the bullet before it cuts you down--your children, your wife, your world, a life. Imagine abject fear of chaos, screams of agony, torment in your ears as your brothers die miraculously slow deaths of torment all around you, all day, day after day after day after day. The horror.
Do you feel it?
If so, that is your Memorial Moment.
Feel it for them . . . just a moment taken from your peace and prosperity . . . your comfort.
Just a moment.
Feel it for them.
They who gave it all for your peace and prosperity.
What are you doing this Month of the Soldier?
Month of the Soldier Quotes:
"Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have."--Harry Emerson Fosdick
"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government."--Edward Abbey
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official..."--Theodore Roosevelt
"Government is not the problem, and government is not the solution. We, the American people, we are the solution."--President Clinton
"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than those attending too small a degree of it."--Thomas Jefferson
"Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor."--Theodore Roosevelt
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."--Theodore Roosevelt
The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, and love of soft living and the get-rich-quick theory of life."--Theodore Roosevelt
"May God begin to forgive us for killing so many precious daughters and sons for land, power, and booty those things that matter not one moment to anyone beyond our collective deaths" Jeff Brown
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal."--Martin Luther King Jr.
"We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace."--William Edwart Gladstone
"No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition."--Benjamin Disraeli
"A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government."--Edward Abbey
"Politics, very often, is simply economics pursued by other means."--Edward J. Nell
"You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertising."--Norman Douglas
"A government which takes from Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul."--George Bernard Shaw
"So you think that money is the root of all evil. Have you ever asked what is the root of all money?"--Ayn Rand
"I was born an American; I will live an American; I shall die an American."--Daniel Webster
"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave."--Elmer Davis
"Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate."--Hubert H. Humphrey
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."--Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes."--Gandhi
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."--Martin Luther King, Jr.
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."--Martin Luther King Jr.
"Let JUSTICE be done though the heavens fall."--Roman maxim
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."--Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice."--Martin Luther King Jr.
"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."--Abraham Lincoln
"The true charter of liberty is independence, maintained by force."--Voltaire
"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."--George Orwell
"We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary."--Malcolm X
"We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it."--Dwight D. Eisenhower
"Freedom is rarely lost in a single stroke. The danger lies in losing it bit by bit."--Dennis Patrick
"All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships."--George Bernard Shaw
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."--Voltaire
"Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed."--Charles Colton
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Top-level comments on this article: (9 total)Wonderful, well thought out article with lots of great info. Thanks for writing this. You did an excellent job and I enjoyed it."Tread the Earth Lightly"" and let your days be filled with... Peace, light and love,Arlene Wright-CorrellThanks for the read and write and the kind comments.
Another great article, Jeff. Thanks for remembering our fallen soldiers, something that should be done daily. A soldier is one who forsakes everything for his country, and sometimes many of us forget what kind of person it takes to do something like that.Thanks for the comment Mike. I don't know what it is, maybe my vivid imagination, but I've always been horrified by war even though I've never been in one. My imagination alone frightening me as I considered the horrors of war even as a child. The grusomeness, randomness, and horror is that to be avoided at greatest cost yet it is one of the most common acts, most natural (?) acts of mankind. And here, yes, I exclude the ladies to the greatest degree. Testosterone has its drawbacks.Even as I think of them now, fallen, leaving behind many, the living horror of survivors, little daughters and sons without, my heart swells and tears fall. Peace to you and yours during this celebratory month of the soldier. May God begin to forgive us for killing so many prescious daughters and sons for land, power, and booty those things that matter not one moment to anyone beyond our collective deaths. Peace!
Great article. Well done.I enjoyed this article and think that this is a well earned tribute.I would like to reccomend you read - or others interested in the contents of this article - to read Elish Hunt Roads or Sam Watkins. They are a great read.Connor,
Thanks for the kudos and for the recommendation. I appreciate you stopping by.
As a vet, thanks Jeff. Sometimes the memories of yesterday pounds. However, because of "Grace," my mind did not remain stagnet at 19 years old of 1963. I made it thus far in my age of time. A lot of my conrads are now 65 years old with their minds still at 19. They were trapped and shocked into that moment and never left.Dr. Rucker,
Yes, our lives are unmanageable without the power of the Savior's atonement. To overcome that which humankind cannot, we always have to turn to Him for healing, grace, and understanding. So greatful for your comments and the time you took to allow my words into your day.
Jeff,Beautifully written. A poet with prose at his command is a great combination. I love the quotes, especially those within the article. They resonate so well with your text, some quotes there in themselves. I appreciate this heartfelt memorial to the great woman and men who have given their all and all of themselves in protecting and serving our country.William,
Thanks so much for the kind words. God bless you and yours on this holy occasion. Peace!
Jeff,Thanks for sharing such splendid information! There are some dates I never knew existed; I've learned something special today, thanks Jeff for sharing this with us.Ronyae,
Thanks for taking the time to read and to write. And yes, I didn't know about them either, until I wrote the article. One of the best things about writing is learning and then there's sharing. Have a great rest of the week. Peace!I must definitely agree, Jeff. And you have a Blessed rest of the week!
I was in the military and my father was too. This is the best memorial dedication article I've read. You bring some of the emotion in that most are missing. I thank you for your article of remembrance.Rob,
You're welcome. Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed. Have a great rest of the week.
Hi Jeff, Thank you for sharing these quotes and for the broad spectrum and thoughts in this piece. The time you took is evident and appreciated. Blessings to you. TeresaThanks Teresa.
Some great quotes and thoughts, Jeff. An all-around great article for this Memorial celebration. Honor those who deserve our respect, thoughts, and prayers. Thanks to you for this.SAndraThanks Sandra
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