Forgive my tardiness…this should have been my Memorial Day (or Decoration Day as it used to be known) post. My humble appreciation, however, for all who have served and sacrificed, and continue to do so, in the name of our freedom and security. These are not hollow words, I want to add. Growing up with my father, who was a proud Marine (HOORAH) and served in World War II brought us great respect for those in the military.
Herman Aron Finkel was an enlisted teenager who went to the South Pacific and became a bombardier. Each day he and his fellow teenagers would jump into tin cans with wings and leave the base to fight other teenagers in their tin cans with wings. Brave? I believe unless we were there, we have no idea how brave, and frightened they must have been. But something pushed them to do their jobs, and that fills me with enormous pride. Because my father was a very talented musician, he would then entertain the troops at night in the mess hall with his beautiful voice and clarinet. What a true dichotomy…bombing by day and singing by night.
My father-in-law was in the infantry and received a Purple Heart for his bravery. He was in the bunkers at Anzio and lost hearing in one ear. Like my father, Morris Murray Mantell was also a teenager when he left his family and went to war. These two men, like countless others, enlisted to protect us and they did. We as a family are proud of these two boys who quickly became men. Murray was given a true veteran’s burial with Honor Guards. I worked hard to make that happen because he deserved nothing less. How different might the lives of our Dads’ have been had it not been for aggression and imperialism?
I don’t have to tell you how different our world is today. Nor do I have to recount our shameful history of turning our backs on the young men and women who have fought more recent wars. Sadly, we have a short memory when it comes to gratitude for the sacrifices so many make to keep us safe. Wearing a uniform no longer elicits appreciation, rather those who so bravely wore them find themselves in jeopardy of losing their promised benefits. These benefits become a “line item” that can be eliminated or reduced. They include tuition assistance, pensions and disability payments.
By the time you read this, Memorial Day will have passed and we will be focused on the summer. We will have forgotten the true meaning of the weekend that ushers in this wonderful time of year. That is the human response. But I am reminded, and want to remind you as well, that extolling gratitude to those who have and continue to provide freedom and security for us must never be forgotten. These Heroes deserve nothing less!
BRAVO!!!!!
Ellen,
Great reminder about those that served, but more importantly those that made the ultimate sacrifice. My first cousin (once removed) died on board the USS Nevada on December 7, 1941. I also lost a friend and schoolmate in Vietnam. I proudly served for four years in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. I know some that fought there, some that came home with their bodies damaged (my brother was wounded) some that suffered and still suffer the mental strains of war. Those that died must hold a special place in our hearts and minds for their sacrifice. Memorial Day is a time to remember them, known and unknown to us.
Beautifully said as always Ellyn – even though my dad wasn’t in the service probably die to his health, I was brought up in a very patriotic home. As well, my husband Bob never forgets to thank someone for their service … he was in during the Viet Nam war but was stateside doing his part. As a 20 year old in Washington DC, I remember visiting soldiers from the war and doing my best to make them remember we cared … ❤️
Wonderful tribute to those brave men and women who serve in our armed forces. A country cannot afford to undervalue the need for strong defenses. Our world has too many bad players to relinquish our hard power. Soft power, like diplomacy, is looked on with derision by world bullies.
Thank Ellyn, for the beautiful tribute to my Dad and yours, and the soldiers that risked there lives for us! I wish I spoke more often to my Dad about his experiences. He rarely said much about a very important time in his life and the whole worlds.
I love your emphasis on the youth, inexperience and gallantry of our service people “back then.” Thank gd our American teens are not faced with such calls to duty today.