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May 26, 2008

Exclusive: The Meaning of Memorial Day

Col. Jeff Bearor, (USMC, ret.)

Let's be clear, this Memorial Day will be very difficult for thousands of families, friends, and military teammates of those American warriors who have died during the last year. Many of these heroes leave behind very young families and all have grieving mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and others. This will the first Memorial Day since their loved one's death and it will no doubt be a very difficult day.

With the pain, though, there will be pride and a sense that the sacrifice was not in vain. For these families know better than any of us the sense of accomplishment, selflessness, and willingness to place the safety of the nation, and of their teammates, above their own that was in the hearts of the fallen. Families will read and re-read letters and emails. They'll recall phone calls and look at video clips. The sense of loss will be great. But also great will be the realization that our country produces young men and women of stout heart and valiant character who volunteered to carry freedom's flag. What a legacy they leave!

Memorial Day for me has always been a day both to celebrate and remember: celebration that our country produces people willing to fight and die for something they believe in but can't touch and remembrance that freedom has a very real cost that must be paid over and over again. As I stop to celebrate another Memorial Day, particularly one when we find ourselves again at war, I think about all those ordinary but extraordinary Americans around the world in harm's way.

I was lucky to serve my country for more than 30 years in uniform. I am amazed at the quality and spirit of the young people who volunteer today to serve our country, even in time of conflict. They are young (the average age of a Marine recruit is about 19.5 years) and come from all over our country and from almost every country around the world. New immigrants and first-generation Americans volunteer in increasing numbers because they understand exactly what America offers the world. These are smart, capable, dedicated kids - mature beyond their years and totally dedicated to each other and their teams.

In my opinion, these newest members of the military represent the leading edge of a new "greatest generation". They understand that there are people, factions, and countries in the world that would see freedom's light snuffed out; that would substitute 13th century thinking in place of 21st century enlightenment. You will rarely hear young Marines, soldiers, airmen or sailors express it in terms like this. They instead talk about their buddies and their team, those with whom they share danger and sacrifice every day in hundreds of places around the world. The key is that these youngest adults in our country are willing to sacrifice their comfort and perhaps their lives for something other than themselves. They are, in a word, selfless and they will lead us into a 21st Century of greater freedom, innovation, growth and human development than did even the Depression Era and World War II generation so sadly passing on in ever greater numbers.

The families of our service men and women sacrifice every day. The separations are nearly unbearable, made even harder in time of war. For those families who have recently lost a beloved son or daughter, husband or wife, mother or father this Memorial Day will be bittersweet. As you pause to both remember their sacrifice and celebrate that our country continues to produce such extraordinary and unselfish heroes, please remember the family members that mourn our newest heroes. Then thank God that we live in a country that inspires such sacrifice.

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