This Memorial Day, Honor the Fallen

Your weekend newspaper—assuming your town still has one—will be stuffed with pages of glossy advertisements for holiday sales.  Your local TV news will do a story on the folks waiting in line in the dark for your local mall to open its doors.  All weekend, people will be firing up their grills or spending a day at the beach.

Nothing’s wrong with enjoying your three-day weekend.  But I worry that, even after almost eight years of war, too many Americans see today as just another summer holiday.  Memorial Day should mean much more than barbecues and clearance sales. 

Today is a solemn day of remembrance for our more than one million American service members of all generations who, on the field of battle, made the ultimate sacrifice. For my part, I am honored to join President Obama and other veterans’ groups in the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery today. It is a humbling opportunity to pay my respects to the generations of American warriors who have given their lives in defense of our country.

This Memorial Day, please take the time to learn a little about a few of the men and women who we are honoring this weekend.  Each of these servicemembers is a recipient of America’s highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor.

World War I.  Army Captain Marcellus Chiles and his men were near Le Champy Bas, France, when they came under heavy machinegun fire.   Captain Marcellus picked up the rifle of a fallen soldier and led his men across a waist-deep stream to engage the enemy. Shot in the stomach by a sniper, Captain Marcellus refused to be evacuated until his team was under the leadership of the next senior officer. Soon after reaching the hospital, Capt. Chiles died.

World War II. On Dagami Leyte, in the Philippines, Private First Class John F. Thorson was an automatic rifleman on a team tasked with taking a heavily fortified enemy position.  Under intense fire, Pvt. Thorson moved ahead of his team and single-handedly attacked a trench defended by several hostile riflemen.  Seriously wounded, he fell a few yards from the trench; as his platoon reached him, an enemy fighter threw a grenade into the group of men. With his last breath, Pvt. Thorson rolled his body onto the grenade.  Killed instantly by the explosion, he saved his fellow troops.

Vietnam.  Gray Martini, a Private First Class in the Marine Corps, was conducting offensive operations with his company at Binh Son.  Moving without cover over a rice paddy, the Marines in Pfc. Martini's platoon assaulted an enemy trench line under fire from grenades, rifle and mortar fire. Within minutes, 14 Marines were killed and 18 wounded.  Pfc. Martini crawled from an area of relative safety to hurl hand grenades, killing several of the enemy.  He then crawled through fire to rescue a wounded comrade. A fellow Marine had been killed in a previous rescue attempt, and Pfc. Martini suffered a serious injury.  Nonetheless, he braved enemy fire again to rescue a second Marine.  This time, he was mortally wounded.  Using his final strength to move the second rescued man to safety, Pfc. Martini gallantly gave his life defending his fellow Marines.

Afghanistan. Operating in an enemy-controlled area, Navy Lt. Michael Murphy's team of four was discovered and assaulted by more than 30 Taliban fighters. The ensuing firefight killed one member of Murphy’s team, and wounded the other three.  The mountainous terrain was making it impossible to call for support, so Murphy fought his way to an unsheltered position where he could transmit a call. Exposed to direct enemy fire, Murphy was mortally wounded.  But he fought on, reporting his coordinates to headquarters and requesting immediate support for his team.  He continued to engage the enemy until he finally gave his life, having saved his comrades.

There are no words that can truly commemorate the heroism of these men.  But one voice, in my opinion, comes closer than any other. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln had this to say about the men who had fought and died at the battle of Gettysburg:

“We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Almost 150 years later, the words of Lincoln still resonate. But it doesn’t take being Commander-in-Chief to honor the fallen. This Memorial Day, I hope you add your own words of remembrance for the brave men and women that have heroically served this nation, and perished on the battlefield.  It is the duty of every American to ensure that they are never forgotten.

Crossposted at IAVA.org.

Comments

[Akat1973]

Thank you Paul for all you do!

[XME]

I'd hope that we remember not just the fallen, but those who've been wounded in body AND in spirit by war. It's important that we remember not just those whose lives have been taken, but those whose lives have been forever changed and affected by their choice to defend all of us.

[GreatNews27]

Paul,

In all due respect, these people havent' 'fallen', they were murdered. They were murdered by their own governments political actions. So please, no more 'fallen', 'sacrificed', 'lost', or 'taken from us'. They were murdered. Most were conscriped. All are dead.

[Lisette]

@GreatNews27

You are so right!

[FogBelter]

Paul, when I was younger I considered Memorial Day as a time off from work and a chance to drink a few beers and have a barbecue. As time went on I became interested in the Philippines and the history it shares with the US. I read about the fall of Bataan and Corregidor, the Death March, Camps O'Donnell and Cabanatuan, the Hell Ships. I learned of the valiant 26th Calvary that rode their horses headlong into the Japanese in the last mounted Calvary Charge in US History. I learned about the ordeal of the men of the 192d Tank Battalion in the Death March. Read of the heroics of the Philippine Scouts on Bataan, and also the sacrifice of men like PFC Thorson, who fought and died against a determined enemy when General MacArthur honored his word and returned to the Philippines.

In 1992, I visited the Heroes Cemetery, on the grounds of the former Fort William McKinley, in Rizal Philippines and the headstones made real the cost of the battles I had only read about.

Memorial Day is still about barbecues and beers, but it is also about the forgotten sacrifice that allows us the opportunity to enjoy a day off from work as well.

[Norge]

fogbelter,

I hope the weather clears for you enabling you to see as you go your way.

The Philippines is another terrrible blight on so called democracy in America. Those islands were conquered because of at that times thinking of Americas' "Manefest Destiny" and for the full control of the Pacific rim which also included Hawaii. Though Hawaii was much easier to conquer for the future use, Plantations. The American marines were a total of 200 when they so bravely over threw the Kingdom of Hawaii and deposed the Queen turning the Islands into a farm owned by America.

Rich are the spoils of war though the conquerers become morally and ethicly bankrupt which eventually leads to demise as is clearly shown if one sifts the dust bins of History of Empires.

[Bitsko]

In honor of our serving gals and guys, here's the haunting Cross The Green Mountain by Bob Dylan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yT8DAgpSVk

[demfriend]

Once again a soldier who has been deployed has come into the mental health ward with thoughts of dying because his life is screwed up and he cannot figure out why. The last straw was the girlfriend who left him because he wasn't talking, wasn't sleeping without nightmares and yelling at night. He was drivning in the middle of the road everywhere, crying for no reason and when old buddies called he told her to tell him he wasn't home. He had done his duty for over 15 months had the job of taking pictures of the dead and maimed. He had to help pick up his dead friends or pieces of them after he had them killed beside him. And he knew he was not the man he used to be but couldn't put a label on it. His last straw was the girlfriend the only one he wanted to be close to but could not be. He is now safe with those who work with me and he will I hope survive this coming home.

[paxatman]

Those who have sacrificed and fallen with indescribably selfless courage look back at us and say: We gave for our children and yours....D­on't screw it up.

We have failed. We really need to take our government back. No more wars for corporate profits.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

End of story...

[schatsie]

NO more corporate profits without jobs....fa­ce it, a lot of the soldiers were recruited from the dying towns in rural areas and there were no jobs there....

[susie1776]

It is possible, on this day, to both despise the WAR and yet Honor the Warriors. These brave men and women answered their country's call. Their service is honourable. God Bless each and every one of them and their families. But I still pray that the day will come when there will be no more need for a day to remember the fallen.

[Vernon Gudger]

Why is there not a holiday celebrating and commemorating World Peace? Honoring the hundreds of thousands, innocent victims of wars throughout the World. It is not a matter of who is patriotic or not, but having the intestinal fortitude to challenge the government when the government initiate war in the name of the people of this country. Is there ever a just reason/cause for starting war?

[WilliamL]

Paul,
thanks for your work.

some of these high brow post make me laugh and sick to my stomach at the same time-the never ending wisdom of the enlightened civilian population-oh hallowed thou art.......­..........­..........­..........­......

misguieded political decsions to invade a country aside, this country and its citizens would be having a different day if not for US soldiers.

would not be bbq and talking smack about troops.

[progressiveconnie]

GOOD MORNING!!! MY FELLOW HOMO SAPIENS WHICH MEANS THE SPECIES WHO IS WISE.
Today our country honors and acknowledges all those brave, dedicated and loyal souls who died, were injured or fought in America's wars.
This day also reminds us all of the terrible costs of war.
This willingness of our nations leaders to keep paying this terrible price in perpetual wars is a damning indictment of all those who promote the idea that war is always the answer to world problems or is necessary for America's security and anyone believing that dubious explanation isn't using enough of their critically thinking brain cells.
It is time America quit interfering in other nations affairs and heed the warning of our Founding Fathers to avoid foreign entanglements and today America must begin using every resource it has available to deal with its serious financial crisis and dumping trillions of American taxdollars in three (Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan) of the most corrupt governments on the planet hinders this countrys ability to deal effectively with its own serious problems.

[Bobmen]

Paul, I think we should remember how we started an unnecessary war in Iraq resulting in thousands of deaths. We should reflect on why we have not heeded the warning from President Eisenhower about the dangers of the congressional, military, industrial complex. Why in remembering our fallen do we glorify our war culture that trashes our military and kills civilians without blinking an eye. It is amazing how days of remembrance fuel future wars that are started to flex the muscles of an empire out of control and in decline. The best way to honor our individuals in the military is to tame a self righteous culture that worships wars of destruction and blesses them with religious hypocrisy.

[paulrieckhoff]

Thanks. I'll be sure to let the President know next time I see him.

[WilliamL]

Civilians-those people in Congress and the WH-that make the call for war.

[annie g]

There are not enough words or medals to say thank you for you and all that has served America. May God bless you and others that continue to serve this Nation. A sincere thank you to their courage, determination and their belief in America's democracy.

[damyanky]

I spent today as I usually do-- not at work, alone at home, not wanting to be out anywhere witnessing the obliviousness of anyone to the meaning and importance of this day. I am sad and grateful in my mind and heart for the loss or damage to all those strangers who gave all they could for the people of this great country. I am angry that we are in Iraq. I am angry that our men and women were killed and wounded for Bush/Cheney lies. I am angry that our soldiers were not provided with the best protection known. I am angry that upon returning to the States they were not given the best known health and rehabilitation care. I am angry that in Nov.2004 enough stupid Republican "christians" voted to return a President and Vice-President to office in spite of it being obvious that these two have absolutely no moral integrity. To all veterans of all wars: I sincerely thank you for your service and sacrifice.

[WilliamL]

And lets not forget Nader and the idiots who put Bush into office in 2000.

[pbfishtaco]

Today I've been remembering Pat Tillman.

[research]

I always tear up at the stories of soldiers bravely sacrificing their lives.

It also reminds me of the awful price of war.