Today is Memorial Day.\u00a0 Well, this is my Memorial Day article.<\/p>\n
It’s probably somewhat different than the norm.\u00a0 Maybe you’ll read it and think this is appropriate for today; maybe you’ll think I’m out to lunch.\u00a0 Or maybe you’ll think I might be both.<\/p>\n
Here goes anyway.<\/p>\n
. . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Jonn wrote an article some time back regarding the now commonly-used phrase, \u201cThank you for your service<\/em>\u201d<\/a> \u2013 and how it rubs some people the wrong way.\u00a0 Poetrooper followed up a couple of days later with his own article<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 Both made the point that this pop-culture phrase which is popular today beats the heck out of what we saw some decades ago.<\/p>\n Yeah, I\u2019ve heard that phrase directed towards me a few times.\u00a0 And what Jonn and Poetrooper say is certainly true.\u00a0 It’s far better than being cursed (or worse), being treated like a leper, or being treated shabbily in those multitude of other ways those returning from Vietnam had to endure.<\/p>\n But I guess you can count me among the curmudgeonly group.\u00a0 Having someone tell me that bothers me a bit.<\/p>\n I guess it’s because I find being thanked by complete strangers for doing nothing more than what I signed up to do . . . somewhat embarrassing.\u00a0 It grates.<\/p>\n I chose to serve.\u00a0 I knew what I was doing; my eyes were wide open at the time.\u00a0 I was fortunate enough to end my service mostly intact – unlike those we remember today.<\/p>\n To one extent or another, everyone who served has a variant of this story.\u00a0 Even those who were draftees had options: resisting, leaving, falsely claiming to be a “conscientious objector”, or outright refusal – though most would call such acts dishonorable.<\/p>\n And yet with rare exceptions those who were drafted served. They too answered when the nation called.<\/p>\n It’s called “doing one’s duty”.\u00a0 Being thanked for that by a stranger just strikes me as being out of place.\u00a0 YMMV.<\/p>\n Remembering and honoring those who didn’t come home?\u00a0 Different story.\u00a0 That’s proper – and necessary.<\/p>\n . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Nonetheless, for whatever reason some people apparently have a need to thank vets and\/or serving members of the military they barely know for serving.\u00a0 Its a free country, so I guess they can if they like.<\/p>\n But as far as I\u2019m concerned, here\u2019s how they could better do that.\u00a0 It doesn’t require saying a word.<\/p>\n \u2022 Be a productive member of society.\u00a0 Raise your kids to be productive members of society also.<\/p>\n \u2022 Be honest and trustworthy; pay your debts; have a sense of civic duty, and of honor.\u00a0 Do the best you can to raise your kids to be the same.<\/p>\n \u2022 Be self-reliant; take care of yourself and your family.\u00a0 Raise your kids to be self-reliant as well.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Help others in need, but in a way that doesn’t<\/em> make them permanently dependent.\u00a0 Give helping hands – not handouts.\u00a0 Teach this to your children by example.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Finally, and perhaps most importantly:\u00a0 love and respect this nation.\u00a0 Raise your kids to do the same.\u00a0 And encourage them to serve the common good \u2013 in some capacity, as a civilian or in uniform \u2013 for at least a part of their life.\u00a0 Each of us owes<\/span> this nation that much for the incredible privilege of being born free citizens.\u00a0 That freedom alone is worth more than any of us can possibly repay.<\/p>\n If someone does those things . . . well, as far as I\u2019m concerned, that\u2019s the best thanks.\u00a0 It’s far preferable to some halfhearted, mumbled platitude from a stranger.<\/p>\n I’d say doing that is also a fitting tribute to our fallen, too.\u00a0 Because I’m convinced that if enough people do those things, the nation our fallen died defending will endure long after we’re all gone.<\/p>\n And that . . . matters.<\/p>\n . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Even so:\u00a0 some people nonetheless apparently still have a burning need to tell somebody<\/em><\/span>, \u201cThank you for your service\u201d.\u00a0 So, let me suggest a way that anyone who feels such a need can do so that’s IMO more apropos than offering some vet or serving member of the military they barely know or just met – a halfhearted and trite platitude.<\/p>\n More precisely, let me suggest two possible ways.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Option One<\/span>:\u00a0 find a local cemetery, preferably one that’s not maintained by a well-funded government, religious, or private entity.\u00a0 Visit it; find the graves of some vets who are buried there.<\/p>\n In mid-May of each year, set aside a few dollars.\u00a0 Use that cash to get a small US flag or two, and maybe also the same number of small artificial wreaths or bouquets.<\/p>\n On the last Monday in May, go to that cemetery and look for a veteran\u2019s grave bereft of flag or flowers.\u00a0 If you find one that’s bare, place your flag and flowers on that grave.<\/p>\n Then mentally tell the soul\/memory of the man or woman buried there, \u201cThanks.\u201d\u00a0 And if so inclined, say a prayer to the Almighty for his or her soul.<\/p>\n If all of the vets’ graves are properly remembered, that’s great.\u00a0 Keep the flag and flowers for the following year.\u00a0 Or go to a different cemetery and do the above.<\/p>\n If for some reason May is a NO GO, then perhaps do it on the 11th of November\u00a0 instead.\u00a0 That’s also acceptable.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0 Option Two<\/span>: on that same Monday \u2013 or, alternately, on the 11th of November if schedule makes late May a NO GO \u2013 go spend some time visiting with an aged vet at a local nursing home or a VA hospital\/other care facility.\u00a0 On that day, he or she will probably be feeling both their years and somewhat down; it\u2019s also entirely possible they\u2019ve outlived their family.\u00a0 They just might enjoy some company.<\/p>\n If someone really<\/em> want to say “thanks” – make one of these an annual event.\u00a0 Get someone else to join in doing the same. Begin a chain, then keep it going.<\/p>\n Why? Because those vets now in their twilight years served well before most living today were old enough.\u00a0 They deserve – and in some cases, need<\/span><\/em> – thanks far more than most.\u00a0 Maybe thanking them<\/em> would be a more apropos way to show gratitude than some trite platitude offered to an individual barely known or just met.<\/p>\n Doing either those things would also IMO be a fine way to remember our fallen, too.\u00a0 Because without their efforts and sacrifice – along with the service of those aged vets now in their twilight years – we might not have very much today worth celebrating.<\/p>\n . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n Just my $0.02 worth, and YMMV.\u00a0 I’m guessing for some reading this it does.<\/p>\n I’m fine with that.\u00a0 It’s still a free country.<\/p>\n Anyway:\u00a0 I hope everyone reading this enjoys their holiday today.\u00a0 But while you’re out and about – or are at your home, or the home of friends or family – please take a moment to remember the reason behind today’s holiday.<\/p>\n So long as we remember them, they’re not completely gone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"