On Memorial Day, honor the fallen by honoring our living service members

May 24, 9:18 PMDenver Gun Rights ExaminerDan Bidstrup

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Memorial Day started as Decoration Day and was the occasion to go to the cemetery and adorn the gravestones of the soldiers who died winning the Civil War. The national commander of the Grand Army Gen. John Logan proclaimed a celebration on May 30th, 1868 wherein both Union and Confederate soldiers graves would have flowers placed on them in Arlington National Cemetery.   Later, the holiday was broadened to include all fallen Americans who had served in the military. 

We honor the sacrifice of the dead most effectively when we honor those currently serving in our armed forces and intelligence services.  Some of them will also die in the service of our country.  The CIA has a wall with anonymous stars incised into a marble wall for their fallen agents, secret even in death.   It is common today for service members traveling to and from postings to be greeted and hailed by folks in the general population in airports, restaurants and on the street.  I love that!  I am old enough to remember the homecoming of our veterans from Vietnam, and I never want to experience that again.  I was ashamed of my country for the way these men and women were received home.  It took 20 years for many of them to truly come home.  Healing began with the Vietnam War Memorial; in effect a large black tombstone.  Over the years, it has been decorated many, many times by visitors leaving flowers, medals, notes and memorabilia.

Let us use the occasion of Memorial Day to contemplate the price paid in lives to keep our freedom and defend it abroad, then show that gratitude to the long line of men and women currently standing harm's way on our behalf.