To Honor

To Honor

By John W. Vander Velden

I walked on a rolling green perfectly mowed space with line upon line of limestone markers.  It was a beautiful spring day, when in breathless awe I stood in Arlington National Cemetery.  The rows of tablets carved with names, ranks, and dates, simple symbols of the thousands who considered the worth of my freedom greater than the value of their lives.  My eyes teared at the thought of so
many lives cut short, those that gave their all. 

And we that stand spared, how do we honor them?  Too easily we turn away from our duty to protect the weak, the oppressed.  Too easily we take our privileged freedoms for granted.  Too easily we put out of our minds the names and faces of the men and women that stood in our stead and faced fear head on, those that came home changed, and those that did not return.  Should we not take time to remember?  Are not among them kin, and neighbor?  Have we forgotten the “others” that shared in the cost, the loved ones of the injured and fallen, those that stood silently in the shadows, yet bear heavy burdens as well?

Surely in a perfect world there would be no need…no need for the sacrifice…no need for the remembering.  But this world is not perfect, and time and time again blood demanded, lives stolen, such a high price set that must be paid.  The bugle’s melancholy notes honor those that have earned their rest.  Let us remember the reason the flag flies mid pole.  And allow the remembering to shape our lives so that we stand boldly for what is right and true.  Today we are reminded, we must live to honor them.  Uphold the high standards they fought to protect, justice and honor, respect and understanding, truth and equality.

One day insufficient, the parades and ceremonies, of themselves, not enough.  Until the day comes when all wars cease, we must remember them, and live each day to honor them.

(333 Words)  5-21-2015