It’s Memorial Day—again. I wonder what the United States is saying to its people and to the world by commemorating this day each year without genuinely working for peace. What legacy are we leaving for the next generation by memorializing as brave heroes those who have fallen in battle without working to prevent the next battles from taking place?
“Our” recent foray into the Middle East is a prime example. There are the official public reasons for going to war—and then there are the various individual assumptions we citizens hold about the war, which differ radically depending on the political party and the life experience of each proponent. What seems especially clear to me is that this war does not adhere to the strictures of what constitutes a just war or the traditional rules of engagement. In fact, most recent wars have not. Consider, for example, the horrific intentional destruction of civilian homes and lives in the war on Gaza.
Interestingly, it took the US more than a century to develop what we now call Memorial Day. The first local commemorations took place following the Civil War. It began as Decoration Day, when flowers were strewn on the graves of soldiers. Perhaps it was a natural attempt to rebuild connections so horrifically broken when this nation went to war with its fellow citizens over the treatment of other human beings.
Memorial Day as a national holiday has only officially been celebrated since 1971—a mere half-century ago. Reading about its origin in putting flowers on graves, I found myself thinking of the war-protest songs of that Viet Nam War era, including “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” which also speaks to the grief of flowers on soldiers’ graves.
I think we need to be paying more attention to the origins of this holiday. In this 250th year since the Declaration of Independence, we are in an undeclared civil war. Siblings are fighting each other, in words and in deeds, across this nation. Rather than celebrating this day with camping trips or backyard barbeques with our friends, perhaps we should be listening more carefully to each other’s pain.
What do you think about Memorial Day these days?
It is my experience that people rarely recall the intended meaning of the day. We are meant to commemorate lives lost. To express gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for others (whether in a just war or not – for most it was a felt duty and honor to “serve” their country). So, today, I pause and send love to those servants while I pray the “leaders” scrape the scales of greed and power lust from their eyes. Then with open eyes may they look upon our world with love and compassion and work to end all war.
Amen, Pat! Thank you for this prayer, and for the reminder to focus on gratitude for those who have served.
Praying for Peace,
Shirin
My grand-nephew was a West Point graduate and flew helicopters during the Afghanistan War. He is a gentle soul who led a troop of flyers, as well as enlisted the aid of Afghani pilots to aid us.
He also started a silent soccer-ball drive with his family and friends back home so his men could all fly low and drop them to the children below for play where they could find them.
Bryan influenced his fellow-flyers to use charity and love in the midst of the conflict, as well as used military channels to rescue an Afghani pilot and his family to get them to future safety (instead of firing squad) in America. This is the kind of humble Patriot I honor today, Shirin. Thank you for the opportunity.
Thank you for this specific, beautiful, and powerful personal example, Mo! I join you in celebrating Bryan and his caring approach to a complex world situation. I’m glad to have provided the opportunity for you to share his story.
Peace,
Shirin
I don’t have much to add today…. flags are flying but I wonder how many stop to think of real meaning of the day. I am the daughter of a Navy veteran and thought today that my dad would be appalled at the state of the US now. I really appreciated the Substack by Nadia Boltz Weber today… did you see it? Very moving. (https://thecorners.substack.com/p/a-prayer-for-those-who-died-for-war?r=3dw94&utm_medium=ios&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e233_tv2_tp2_a1demonlf58n4j&triedRedirect=true)
Dear Power Greater Than Myself,
Power greater than my fears, greater than my hopes, greater than my limited understanding of basically everything,
We have set this day aside to remember.
To remember those who died IN war.
Whose bravery was not enough to survive the battlefield.
But God, help us also remember those who died FROM war.
Whose bravery was not enough to survive the battlefield of an injured mind.
Help us remember those who are still trying to survive wars long past.
Who no longer wear the uniform, but still bear the scars, seen and unseen.
Help us also remember those who died FOR war.
Children and mothers and bakers and doctors and people just walking to the grocery store, whose civilian status was not enough to keep them safe from mortar shells, and who do not have flags and parades in their honor.
May their memory be for blessing,
But may it also be for warning.
May their memory help us not forget the long, tangled cost of war, and to see in our own human hearts all the very things that led them to die.
Amen.
I hear you Joyce, and I agree that Nadia Bolz-Weber’s prayer is very powerful. Nations and their leaders sacrifice so many innocents on the altar of their perceived needs. May we indeed heed the warning….
Peace,
Shirin