Three years ago, I had the honor of representing VetsFirst/United Spinal Association at the Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery. At the eleventh hour, Vice-president Joe Biden placed the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My wife and I were maybe five or six people away from the Vice-president and Mrs. Biden. It was a moment that we will never forget.
Later that day, when the Bidens and the Ampitheater crowds were long gone, representatives from more than 30 national veterans service organizations, including yours truly accompanied by a member of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Honor Guard, placed our organization’s wreath at this sacred place. Just in case you don’t already know, the first Memorial Day was held on May 30, 1868, at the Arlington Cemetery to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War.
To this writer, Memorial Day has changed in many ways over the years. For instance, not all people think of it as a day for remembering the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have given their lives to keep our country free; rather, for some it is Memorial Day Weekend, or a chance to get away from their weekly routine for three days in a row instead of the usual two day weekend.
For other Americans, Memorial Day is an opportunity to visit close family members or friends whom we just can’t seem to make the time to see during the year. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but I’m guessing that the point of Memorial Day gets lost in the conversation, eating and drinking.
And then there is the “traditional” backyard barbecue. We throw some hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, etc. on the grill, bring out the potato salad, cole slaw and macaroni salad and top it off with a few different ice cream flavors for dessert. The true meaning of Memorial Day gets lost because somebody has to go out and buy the Alka-Seltzer since all the backyarders have chowed down a bit too much.
And in many communities across this great nation, Memorial Day has become the unofficial start of the summer. It’s that first chance to go to the beach, the lake, or the community swimming pool. For me, it’s the volume of traffic that grows exponentially from the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day weekend and it culminates in that “forever” ride home beginning in the late afternoon of Memorial Day and continuing through the night.
I live in a small town northwest of New York City. On Memorial Day at 11 AM, my wife and I will watch the traditional small parade through a couple of the “main” streets of our town. I’ll be thinking of three men I knew whose names are now on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. I “never forget” them on Memorial Day or Veterans Day. I’ll also be thinking about the men and women veterans whom I have had the honor to meet at my VA hospital over the years, and who are now in a better place. I will “never forget” them either. Please join me and “never forget” someone or more than one person who has made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
Terry Moakley
Chair of the VetsFirst Committee