THE CENTURION CHRONICLE MEMORIAL DAY

(…hello, America, do you remember me? We’re the ones who fought the war every night… on your TV)

It’s that annual moment again, that special day set aside in remembrance of all those who gave their lives for this country of ours. While there are a number of formal and official ceremonials in all parts of the country, folks are mostly busy thinking about all the good and fun things they’ll be doing on that long three day weekend.

You know, a day at the beach, a trip to the zoo (or Disneyland, which amounts to the same thing), backyard barbecues with ice cold long-necked bottled beers, while watching all those ceremonies on big screen TVs, etc.. Meanwhile, TV and other advertisers are blasting away with all their special sales deals for the occasion. Such is our way of remembering in America today.

Well, as the lyrics of an old country song put it…hello, America, do you remember me? We’re the ones who fought the war every night…on your TV. Maybe not, really, for it seems everyone is more focused on all the good and fun things the occasion gives us, than any of that. It would just spoil the fun. Let’s have a few air shows, car races at  Indianapolis and Daytona, instead, making Memorial Day just another one of those traditions of ours, something we do by rote, and give lip service to, without any real thought about what it was meant to signify.

So, if you really want to get back to the true meaning of this day, take the time to first go visit one of those national cemeteries before going off to play. Go there, and stand among those acres and acres of stones, rank upon rank, file upon file, with all their little flags fluttering in the breeze; then, perhaps, perhaps then you will truly remember what that all means.

Freedom is not free…and all those stones…are just part of the price we’ve paid for it.

CENTURION