Memorial Day
By Hank Silverberg
(Note to readers: Portions of this Memorial Day blog are reworked from the Memorial Day blog from last year.
Memorial Day 2020. The United States has been at
war in Afghanistan for 19 years. Including the war in neighboring Iraq, more
than 6,900 members of the American military have been killed, and more
than 52,000 have been wounded in this country’s longest war.
But if you ask most Americans what sacrifices
they have made during the so called “war on terror,” you will get a quizzical
look. Unless they have served or have a close friend or
relative who has served in the last two decades, they can’t answer the question.
Memorial Day began after the Civil War as Decoration Day. Individual communities would place flags or wreaths on the graves of their war dead, mostly in northern states. The first official Decoration Day was in upstate New York on May 5th, 1866. It was in a town, ironically called Waterloo, which closed all its offices and stores so residents cold decorate the graves of Union War dead with flowers and flags. The tradition grew and a nationwide date of May 30th was chosen because it was NOT the date of any great battle. By the end of World War One, many people had started wearing red poppies on May 30 as a reference to a popular poem.
(See below)
Memorial Day took hold nationwide after World
War Two, during which 291,557 American soldiers, sailors and Marines were
killed in combat (total American Military deaths over 405,000) I have vivid memories of Memorial Day parades growing up in
Connecticut in the 60's and 70's, where I marched as a Boy Scout behind
veterans of of World War Two and Korea.
 |
| (WW Two Memorial, Courtesy of National Park Service) |
But Memorial Day did not become an official
federal holiday until 1971 during the height of the Vietnam War. Some
skeptics would say it was partly propaganda to bolster an unpopular
war, where the warriors were being shunned because of bad decisions by civilian
politicians. But in reality, it was just another way for Congress to give
federal workers a three-day weekend like they did when they combined Lincoln
and Washington’s birthdays into President’s Day. The date was changed from May
30 to the last Monday in May. And from then on, Memorial Day sales fit
right in with the President’s Day sales. Somehow the somber day of remembrance
had lost its meaning. The commemorations now go up or down depending on the
mood of the populace.
No disrespect to those who currently serve or
veterans, but this is not your day. It was never meant to be. Veteran's Day is
November 11. Memorial Day is to remember those who died defending our
freedom at places like Bunker Hill, Bladensburg, Gettysburg, Chateau Thierry,
Iwo Jima, Inchon, Hue, Falujah, Tora Bora and thousands of lesser known battles
on land, at sea, or in the air. It's a day to honor those who gave what Lincoln
called their "last full measure of devotion."
 |
(The
smallest National Cemetery in U.S. at Balls Bluff,VA
established 1861 right after the battle. Hank Silverberg photo) |
Memorial Day used to be a family day or the
first unofficial weekend of summer when we celebrate the freedom for which
hundreds of thousands died. But Memorial Day is not a day for hostile
rhetoric or insulting tweets. Those who use it as such dishonor the memory of
our war dead.
THIS year there will be no parades, no large gatherings or picnics, and hopefully NO large crowds at the beach.The Covid-19 pandemic will force many of us to stay home and that is a good thing. Social distancing and wearing a face mask remain the best ways to help prevent the spread of the virus.
I note with significance that since the virus broke open five months ago, more than 96,000 Americans have died from the disease. That's more than American war dead in Vietnam and Korea combined. Those who died from the virus are NOT war dead, but enough of them were called to duty in defense of our country either as essential workers or first responders. They, too, should be remembered this Memorial Day.
I don’t fly the flag at home every day, but this
weekend, the Stars and Stripes waves proudly outside my house. It is the same
flag my parents flew outside their home on certain occasions when I was growing
up.
Dad served in the Marines during World War Two,
and was wounded on Iwo Jima. He didn’t talk about it much, even though his
wound eventually put him in a wheelchair for the last 30 years of his life.
Like many who fought, he hated war and flew the flag to honor those who didn’t
make it home.
To honor those men and women I also re-post this poem written by a Canadian combat surgeon in 1915, before the United States had entered World War One, but after the carnage of several battles in Belgium. It expresses the mournfulness of war and its aftermath. It serves as a fitting tribute to all casualties of war, and it explains why the poppy is still used to remember those who died.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We
are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our
quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
by John McCrae, May 1915
HERE IS A READING OF THE POEM
This year I also fly the flag for the thousands of Americans who may have died needlessly of Covid-19 because of a dysfunctional federal government which did not act fast enough in defense of the American populace. That same government may be making another mistake by removing restrictions to soon.
News Notes:
There are some things you read that really make your skin crawl. And this one goes to top my list this week. The source is the FBI.
It seems some racist, neo-Nazis and other White Supremacists have come up with a new way to go after those people they don't like, which means anyone not exactly like them.
ABC https://abcn.ws/2xS6rjd reported that people in those hate groups may try to use spray bottles filled with bodily fluids to spread the Corona virus to those they hate, hoping to infect Jews, immigrants or people of color. The extremists are telling followers to do so at any place their targets may be congregated, including markets, political offices, or places of worship.
I'm not sure where they would get such "bodily fluids," that would be contaminated, but the concept should put you on alert. These people have no morals and no soul. And I should note, they were very vocal at some of those "end the lock down" protests, though not in large numbers.
Also of note this week: there is a new round of polls on the presidential race taken before Joe Biden's bad attempt at humor about black folks who support Trump. (He said "if they support Trump, they ain't black)
Most of the polls show Biden with a widening lead in the General Election. At least one (Quinnipiac) had Biden holding an 11 point advantage. (50% to 39%)
It's early yet, but part of the reason for the large gap may be found in a second poll out on the corona virus. The Associated Press poll found that 83% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about lifting restrictions on the lock-down in their area. Fifty-four percent say they believe that will lead to additional outbreaks of Covid-19.
At the same time, the President has been pushing hard for a complete re-opening of business, schools and social events, even threatening to override any governor who keeps churches or other houses of worship from re-opening. The President, who never goes to church himself, apparently is unaware he has no Constitutional power to override state governors. And he apparently doesn't know that in most cases, it was the leaders of the houses of worship themselves who made the decision to close, not the government. The same poll also showed the President's overall approval rating holding at 41%.
Stay safe and healthy. Enjoy the first week of summer at home and take some time to think about those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom.
(Your suggestions and comments are welcome)
For those of you looking for some good reading material during the stay at home period, my book is available. You can get a signed version from me at a reduced rate by emailing me directly at hsilverberg@gmail.com for instructions.
The book is available in hard cover, softcover or e-book.
Or you can go to Amazon.com or BN.com to order. Direct links are below.
Amazon
Or at Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796?ean=9781647532185
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