Memorial would honor those who served
C.D. Six
Tuesday, May 30, 2000
A recent "Funky Winkerbean" comic lamented that crowds at Memorial Day parades were getting so small, soon Memorial Day would be a memory.
It seems today that Monday's holiday has become little more than a three-day weekend opportunity to have a cook-out - that we forget the sacrifices of the generations of men and women who fought the wars to preserve our freedom.
In many ways, there may be nothing wrong with that. Those generations fought and sacrificed so the later generations didn't have to. As one member of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation told him while he was researching that book, perhaps their children were spoiled a little, but that was what was wanted.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember, freedom doesn't come cheap.
In the past few years I have dedicated a good portion of my life to preserving the memory of those who fought in World War II. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with veterans of that war and have had the opportunity to join a good number of the organizations preserving the history of those times.
One of the efforts I wholeheartedly support and applaud is the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Through fund-raisers with the band I play in, and through words I have written in this space, I have done my best to do my part in the construction of this long overdue monument.
I have chosen to do it for a number of reasons. Some are selfish - I want to preserve the memory of my grandfather's service - but most are because I hold those men and women in the highest esteem. Of course, a memorial to their service is long overdue, but more importantly, a memorial to their service will serve as a constant reminder to us all of the great cost in human life to defend our freedom.
It was a cost paid not just for that generation, but for the generations that followed, and prospered, as we strove to achieve a society in which there would be no more war.
Those people deserve to be honored by this nation, just as those who fought in the Revolutionary War to establish our freedom, the War of 1812 and World War I to defend that freedom, the Civil War to expand that freedom, and all of those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Cuba and the Philippines, Mexico and every conflict in between for the cause of freedom should be remembered.
When I wrote on the World War II memorial a year ago, I spoke of the cause that folks like Tom Hanks and Bob Dole were fighting for. The danger that such a necessary memorial might not happen. Now, a year later, there is still some ways to go, but its construction is almost a certainty.
Berks County's chapter of the memorial fund has raised an incredible amount of money - placing it among the leaders in the nation. I am honored that I could play a small role in that, performing with the band at fund-raisers and having the opportunity to speak and write about it.
But the real honor goes to those who have contributed, so that so many will be remembered. Those who realize the costs to that generation's lives, who realize that freedom doesn't come cheap.
I realize not everyone can afford to make contributions, nor would I ask for it, that is a decision that needs to be made by each and every individual. But I do ask something of each and every individual - during this period spanning Armed Services Day (May 20), Memorial Day and the anniversary of D-Day (June 6) - pause and reflect on those who sacrificed everything for the cause of freedom. Those who came home to a new world, and those who never returned.
Think about the price of freedom.
Honor their memory.
C.D. Six
Tuesday, May 30, 2000
A recent "Funky Winkerbean" comic lamented that crowds at Memorial Day parades were getting so small, soon Memorial Day would be a memory.
It seems today that Monday's holiday has become little more than a three-day weekend opportunity to have a cook-out - that we forget the sacrifices of the generations of men and women who fought the wars to preserve our freedom.
In many ways, there may be nothing wrong with that. Those generations fought and sacrificed so the later generations didn't have to. As one member of Tom Brokaw's Greatest Generation told him while he was researching that book, perhaps their children were spoiled a little, but that was what was wanted.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember, freedom doesn't come cheap.
In the past few years I have dedicated a good portion of my life to preserving the memory of those who fought in World War II. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with veterans of that war and have had the opportunity to join a good number of the organizations preserving the history of those times.
One of the efforts I wholeheartedly support and applaud is the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Through fund-raisers with the band I play in, and through words I have written in this space, I have done my best to do my part in the construction of this long overdue monument.
I have chosen to do it for a number of reasons. Some are selfish - I want to preserve the memory of my grandfather's service - but most are because I hold those men and women in the highest esteem. Of course, a memorial to their service is long overdue, but more importantly, a memorial to their service will serve as a constant reminder to us all of the great cost in human life to defend our freedom.
It was a cost paid not just for that generation, but for the generations that followed, and prospered, as we strove to achieve a society in which there would be no more war.
Those people deserve to be honored by this nation, just as those who fought in the Revolutionary War to establish our freedom, the War of 1812 and World War I to defend that freedom, the Civil War to expand that freedom, and all of those who fought in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf, Cuba and the Philippines, Mexico and every conflict in between for the cause of freedom should be remembered.
When I wrote on the World War II memorial a year ago, I spoke of the cause that folks like Tom Hanks and Bob Dole were fighting for. The danger that such a necessary memorial might not happen. Now, a year later, there is still some ways to go, but its construction is almost a certainty.
Berks County's chapter of the memorial fund has raised an incredible amount of money - placing it among the leaders in the nation. I am honored that I could play a small role in that, performing with the band at fund-raisers and having the opportunity to speak and write about it.
But the real honor goes to those who have contributed, so that so many will be remembered. Those who realize the costs to that generation's lives, who realize that freedom doesn't come cheap.
I realize not everyone can afford to make contributions, nor would I ask for it, that is a decision that needs to be made by each and every individual. But I do ask something of each and every individual - during this period spanning Armed Services Day (May 20), Memorial Day and the anniversary of D-Day (June 6) - pause and reflect on those who sacrificed everything for the cause of freedom. Those who came home to a new world, and those who never returned.
Think about the price of freedom.
Honor their memory.