Today is Memorial Day in the US. It is important to remember that this day is not meant for honoring living veterans. It is set aside to honor and remember those who have made the supreme sacrifice for our country. For my personal observance, I also include those who made it home from their service, but have since passed away.
The impact spreads far beyond those lost in our wars. Surrounding each of these lost lives is a circle of parents, spouses, siblings, children, and their brothers and sisters in arms.
Some of my friends go into seclusion on Memorial Day to grieve in private. Others attend public ceremonies. All need our support and understanding.
As we honor our fallen, let us not forget those who mourn.
For Memorial Day, the silent roll call:
SGT Todd A. Zephier
SSG John Everett Leach
PFC Darryl Shirley
C Battery, 3/84th Field Artillery (Pershing) killed in the line of duty, Heilbronn, Germany, January, 1985
Fernando Garcia
Philippine Resistance World War II, Philippine Auxiliary, US Army of Occupation, Okinawa, 1946
My Father-In-Law
Allen Young, USMC, Korea
Bobby Young, US Army, Cold War
Phillip McKee, USAF, Vietnam
My uncles.
And resting in a small, nearly forgotten cemetery near our house in Chester, VA.
Madeline G. Williams
US Army, World War II
George T. West Sr.
US Army, Cold War
Clarence. E. Glen
Virginia
PVT Co E 810 Pioneer Infantry
World War I
The impact spreads far beyond those lost in our wars. Surrounding each of these lost lives is a circle of parents, spouses, siblings, children, and their brothers and sisters in arms.
Some of my friends go into seclusion on Memorial Day to grieve in private. Others attend public ceremonies. All need our support and understanding.
As we honor our fallen, let us not forget those who mourn.
For Memorial Day, the silent roll call:
SGT Todd A. Zephier
SSG John Everett Leach
PFC Darryl Shirley
C Battery, 3/84th Field Artillery (Pershing) killed in the line of duty, Heilbronn, Germany, January, 1985
Fernando Garcia
Philippine Resistance World War II, Philippine Auxiliary, US Army of Occupation, Okinawa, 1946
My Father-In-Law
Allen Young, USMC, Korea
Bobby Young, US Army, Cold War
Phillip McKee, USAF, Vietnam
My uncles.
And resting in a small, nearly forgotten cemetery near our house in Chester, VA.
Madeline G. Williams
US Army, World War II
George T. West Sr.
US Army, Cold War
Clarence. E. Glen
Virginia
PVT Co E 810 Pioneer Infantry
World War I