Memorial Day

A time to remember, honor and celebrate

Memorial Day is a time to remember, honor and celebrate. Of those three acts, the most important is remembering, for as the name implies, Memorial Day is about the past and our relationship with it. We must preserve, in our hearts and souls, the memory of the men and women who served to keep us free. Then, and only then, can we honor and celebrate.

We remember the sacrifice and the heroism, the courage and determination. But, most of all, we remember the spirit, manifested through acts great and small, that make this country what it is and, we pray, what it shall always be.

Sadly, it is all too easy to forget. Why? Because after centuries of selfless service it is easy for civilians to regard this devotion to duty as a birthright, something we take for granted. That attitude is wrong, misguided. We should accept the sacrifice as graciously — and humbly — as it is offered. Our brave men and women who sacrificed their lives deserve no less.

And, yet, every year we see Memorial Day trivialized. Businesses promote Memorial Day sales. Media outlets throughout the country feature stories on Memorial Day recipes and Memorial Day activities. Memorial Day will be no different this year.

It is important to remember, however, that the reason we are able to take Memorial Day for granted is because our soldiers have done their jobs so well, so bravely. They have built a fortress around us, shielding us from the horrors and hardships they themselves suffer. We owe our comfort, our way of life, to these brave men and women.

“I did the job that I was trained for,” said Dwight W. Birdwell, a soldier who served during the Vietnam War. “I felt like I had to do this. It was a matter of duty. And I did my duty as best I could. I’ve wondered a thousand times why I survived and some of the others didn’t, but I’ve thought when I go up for judgment, if I have the courage, I’ll ask God that question.”

Birdwell uttered those words on July 5, 2022, an emotional moment for a man who received an award he richly deserved — the Medal of Honor.

Braving enemy fire from a furious assault, Birdwell helped rescue members of his unit, including his troop commander, during what became known as the Tet Offensive. He suffered injuries to his face and torso, but he kept helping evacuate the wounded. Birdwell refused to stop until ordered to seek treatment for his own injuries.

“They stood in the way of danger, risked everything … to defend our nation and our values,” President Joe Biden said of Birdwell and three other honorees during the ceremony at the White House.

Those who died while serving in the United States armed forces are heroes, exceptional soldiers who exhibited a courage few of us can understand, much less match. The least we can do is honor them in return.

“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime,” Adlai Stevenson, the twotime Democratic nominee for president during the 1950s, said.

Few Americans have displayed that dedication more dramatically than our service men and women. The sacrifice is almost incalculable, not only for the service members themselves but also for their loved ones. From the Revolutionary War to the War in Afghanistan, more than 1 million Americans have died in battles throughout our history.

So let us do what we are supposed to do on Memorial Day. Let us remember those who have fallen. And, in remembering, let us honor those who honor us with their sacrifice.

—San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board