Quarantine Bloglette: Memorial

There are many ways we can remember the women and men who have fought for and died for our country and its ideals. Parades are good, though I suppose there won't be any this year. Parades are uplifting, some people's preferred way of being remembered. On the other end of the spectrum, are visits to graveyards, where you can talk to those who died in service or pray for those they left behind.

Memorial Day has always been more of a day off to me than any great remembrance. I have thanked men and women in uniform; I do this all year round, not just on Memorial or Veteran's Day. Memorial Day makes me uncomfortable. I don't like war. But, as I have found it in me to thank Donald Trump when I've written him letters respectfully disagreeing with his ways and policies, I have found it in me to thank those who were willing to fight in wars I don't think should have happened. Why? Because they tried. They committed themselves to something that they truly believed would better our common situation. They committed themselves and followed up on that commitment, possibly even when they themselves thought it not best.

It strikes me strongly this year, that one of the best ways we can honor our fallen veterans is to uphold the self-protective and isolation policies local governments have put in place. Why should any one of them have died only to have so many US citizens scoff at the protective measures governors have put in place? How is that honoring them? As memorials go, that is like a thumb to the nose accompanied by a Bronx cheer. A cartoon I saw read: First time in history we can save the human race by laying in front of the TV and doing nothing. Let's not screw this up! Amen, brothers and sisters, amen.

On display in the US Embassy in Moscow is a table set for one of the fallen:

Laid on it are parts of a Marine uniform.

A purple heart that will never be worn by so many who earned it lies on prominent display.

And an inspiring reading. (Following the picture, I wrote it out to make it easier to read.)

The Fallen Comrade's Table

The military life is filled with much symbolism. This table provides a way to tell us that members of the profession, whom we call "brothers," are unable to be with us this evening.

It is set for one, yet there are many represented by the simple chair.

The table is draped in black, symbolizing the color of mourning, the ultimate sacrifice, a table set in honor of our fallen comrades.

The single candle reminds us of the flame of eternal life, that the memory of our fallen comrades will be with us always.

The Purple Heart medal displayed to reflect the infliction of wounds and the ebb of life in battle.

The identification tags blank, yet they could bear the names of service members of every creed and color and from every state of the Union.

The dinner setting inverted; they dine with us in spirit only.

Those who have died so that we may live, our former comrades who have earned the glory and have given to us the respect and pride that we hold so dear.