Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was first established to honor Union soldiers who had died during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

As a small girl, I remember going to Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on Memorial Day. Decoration Day was personal to our family, because Mama’s oldest brother died in Okinawa (April 1945). He was one of more then 72,000 Americans who lost their lives taking the Island of Okinawa near the close of WWII.

We would watch as Grandma McClintock put flowers one Uncle Wayne’s grave then gather around the flag pole as an honor guard fired the 21 gun salute in honor of all the soldiers buried at Fort Leavenworth and a brass band played Taps.

This year Memorial Day has a different face. For the first time a couple of weeks ago I heard an 87 year old veteran opening up for the first time about the death he witnessed all around him serving in the South Pacific during that same war.

Many of our WWII veterans are just starting to talk. How long have they suffered under the shadows of their memories in silence? The served out of honor and duty giving the best years of their young adult lives to defend this Nation. Now as these veterans are coming to the end of their lives the memories are beginning to trickle out.

It is our duty as the next generation to listen.