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Monday, May 30. 2011

Memorial Day 2011

This is the most important holiday of the year, for me anyway. More important than Independence Day even. Today we honor the men and women, no longer with us, that served our nation in arms. Mainly those who gave their last full measure of devotion for this country, but also the ones who returned home and lived out their lives in a peaceful pursuit of happiness.

Liberty is kind of an ambivalent, vague, word for me, considering how much of our civil liberties have been chipped away by one law or another. Especially the Fourth Amendment, which at one time guaranteed our right to be free from all unreasonable searches and seizures.
 This really ticks me off: Congressional Democrats voted to extend the Patriot Act and President Obama signed it into law.

Then of course we have states that are actively restricting the rights of citizens to vote—the petition of grievances could go on, but this isn’t about that. Not today. No, Monday, May 30, 2011 is about honoring our fallen warriors, men and women. We can debate all that other shit another day.

In our family there have been many who served: uncles and cousins, but most especially our Dad and eldest brother and sibling: Carl Peter John Forkes and Carl Christopher Forkes, respectively. Both served in the Navy, Dad in World War II and Carl in Vietnam. Dad came home a hero and Carl, not so much.

Oh, he was every bit the hero Dad was, but during the Vietnam years veterans were just this side of scorned in this country and in some quarters, more than scorned. It wasn’t a popular time to wear the uniform. Carl and all those who served with him deserve a little more honor because of it.

So, as we go about our fun-filled day off from work, remember those who fought, and in some cases died, defending our nation. Attend a parade or a Memorial Day service at a military cemetery. Or just put an American Flag outside your door. We get to have our barbecues at the beach today because of those who served.

All gave some — some gave all.

Posted by Tim Forkes in HOLIDAYS at 00:01 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

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