Pausing and remembering

Much is being written and said about the true meaning of Memorial Day and the associated three day weekend for many.  Most of the sentiment correctly advocates honestly taking the time to really think of the enormity of this National holiday, even as its popular celebration is moved to Monday from the actual date of 31 May.

I join those criticizing the blatant commercialization.  It is sad to see red, white, and blue proliferate the advertisements for the sake of profit.  It is repugnant to read or hear ad copy conveying that it is somehow patriotic to buy this or that product on this particular day.  Of course, the very American freedoms our servicemen and women died for also provide the basis for this rank commercialization.

It occurrs that most of those writing and speaking about the inappropriate use of the holiday and/or strongly advocating embracing its true meaning are from a very small (and getting smaller) segment of the population: active duty military personnel, veterans, and families of the fallen.  And that is a great shame in and of itself.

For some of us, the faces of individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines personify Memorial Day.  

We may be the ones observed standing off to the side at various celebrations.  Perhaps with a tear in our eyes.  Or perhaps gathering with those of similar experiences.  

Pausing and remembering.   

Memorial Day, Run for the Wall, and Rolling Thunder

With Memorial Day just around the corner, hundreds of bikers are riding towards our nation's capital, as Run for the Wall, the brainchild of retired Marine James Gregory, makes its way to Rolling Thunder.  

One patriotic artist captures these uniquely American events and expressions of unadulterated love of country.

Renowned artist David Uhl superbly captures the essentials of Rolling Thunder: patriotism, service & sacrifice, American bikers, and independence.  

Marine Staff Sergeant Chambers is now an iconic element of the day.

And the realized vision of one man, Artie Muller.

Some people are indeed animals

Some folks are either terribly naive, enjoy exceptionally sheltered (maybe exceptionally privileged) lives, or are incredibly foolish.  Washington Post opinion writer E. J. Dionne is one of these folks.

In a recent piece he opines, "It’s never right to call other human beings “animals.”  This, of course, refers to comments made by the President in referring to the notorious gang MS-13.  Dionne weakly attempts to acknowledge some folks might not be suitable for taking home to mom.  " No matter how debased the behavior of a given individual or group, no matter how much legitimate anger that genuinely evil actions might inspire, dehumanizing others always leads us down a dangerous path."

How can one write "dehumanizing others" who wantonly kill as something dangerous?  There are people in this world who are so evil, so depraved that the violence they visit on the innocent rightfully deserves and earns the animal descriptor.  History is full of examples, large and small.  

Dionne and other of his ilk pontificate that all are inherently good.  They are the ones who appease.  They - for example, Obama - self-righteously, sanctimoniously, and arrogantly tell us that if they can just speak with the truly evil, they have the ability to change them.  Nonsense.  

Dionne, Obama, Pelosi, and countless others are very fortunate to live in this great country, sheltered from the violence mankind visits on itself.  This liberals, in their smugness, have thankfully not personally seen or experienced such violence against themselves or their loved ones.  Had they, it is a certainty they would not be politicizing this latest matter.

As an aside, these are the same liberals who all too liberally throw out descriptors such as evil when referencing those with whom they disagree.

Any thug or group of thugs responsible for wanton violence has earned being called animals.    

A Marine retires

Sergeant Major Kasal, United States Marine Corps, has retired from active duty.

He is a true American hero, whose name some may not recognize.  His image in one of the most widely identifiable photographs from our recent wars is most certainly recognized.

May he enjoy fair seas and following winds in retirement.

Semper Fidelis.

Armed Forces Day 2018

Saturday May 19, 2018 is Armed Forces Day.

It should not be confused with Memorial Day or Veterans Days.

On Armed Forces Day we recognize those currently serving in uniform, often far from home and going in harm's way.  Volunteers all, they stand for what is right, serve along side their brothers and sisters, and represent the best of our nation.  

Publicly and privately we should thank them for their service.