I didn't go to see the fireworks last night and don't plan on watching them tonight. There doesn't seem to be much reason to celebrate this year. Two wars still going on and producing more dead and wounded. More families missing someone they loved. More families wondering how to take care of a wounded combat veteran and far too many wondering how to put their lives back together after PTSD has taken hold.
Celebrating our independence doesn't seem right considering we do not celebrate the veterans enough to take care of them properly. Sure, we talk a lot about it, but face the truth. If we really did do whatever it took, there would be very little to post on. As it is in less than four years, there are over 12,000 post on this blog along and most of them are not happy ones.
See, we can celebrate all we want claiming we're celebrating how this country earned the right to be free, but we hardly ever think about the men and women after they paid the price to achieve it and retain it. Three times a year we manage to do something involving them. Memorial Day we're supposed to honor the war dead but we have politicians saying that Memorial Day is all about the veterans instead of all about the fallen. Veterans Day is a day for sales ahead of the Christmas shopping season. July 4th is about cookouts and fireworks along with both of them but we can forget about the guilt we should carry the rest of the year because after all, these days are supposed to be all about them but as usual, we make it all about us and our enjoyment.
I agree. We should be quietly supporting our soldiers. We should not lose focus on the fact that they are still over there!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It always comes back this time of year with Memorial Day and too many forget about the fact it is not just a long weekend but a day to remember the few that gave their lives for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteThey heard it after Vietnam. "You shouldn't have been there" as if that is supposed to in some way excuse their lack of caring for the veterans. My husband heard it when he came home. They heard it after Korea. My Dad heard it when he came home. Even my uncles heard it from time to time after WWII. There just always seems to be too many reasons to forget and not enough reminders of the price that has been paid from generation to generation. Now men like your son and daughters come home, forgotten about as if whatever price they pay doesn't matter at all.