The Doors – The End

Some links from the long weekend.

Rather than dwelling on those who have given their lives in wars in the US (I am fortunate that for all the members of my family who have served in the military over the years, I think only my Great Uncle Will died while serving during war time and his death during the Spanish-American War was from disease), I want to discuss the folks who always seem to get lost, the veterans who return from war breathing but damaged in soul.

At the height of the Vietnam War, when thousands of young men his age were being killed in a pointless and tragic conflict, Willard was enjoying the first of his deferments — in France. That makes his remarks today about Memorial Day all the more jarring.

Among the items that should be grilled in this country over Memorial Day is a large helping of irony.

Bruce Springsteen’s “You’re Missing” pays beautiful homage to the pain of life’s losses.

On this Memorial Day, I hope and wish that all our soldiers now at home and those who’ll come home soon can expect the same. Remember them, and remember that they need you now and for a very long time to come.

As we celebrate this holiday in 2010, I’d like to ask folks to pause at some point between the burgers and dogs, beer, brisket, and ribs, and the day off and reflect on the meaning of the holiday. Think about the death this past week of Lt John Finn, 100 years old and the then oldest surviving holder of the Medal of Honor for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Think about the 1,000th US casualty in Afghanistan (a “milestone” we crossed this past week), the more than 4,000 US soldiers who have died in Iraq. Think about the millions of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who have been injured or died in the wars since the Civil War.

While conservatives are whining about Obama not going to Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day, they’re missing the fullness of the celebration. Accounts of the earliest Memorial Day celebration (years before they celebrated it at Arlington) note that the day included a march of veterans, speeches, decorating graves, and a barbecue. That’s right: a barbecue.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can celebrate Memorial Day without one. YMMV (Your Menu May Vary), but you have to fire up the grill to really celebrate Memorial Day the way the founders intended.

Women still face a military attitude that up to now has been “Because women aren’t allowed in combat, they can’t have PTSD. It must be depression or women’s issues like PMS.” This Memorial Day it’s worth noting that the US military is a whole lot keener to deploy women than it is to look after them when they’ve done their service. We discuss veterans’ issues in a GRITtv roundtable.