Memorial Day

I couldn't even begin to think of saying it better: Jim Lacey on the Military on National Review Online.

Those with no familiarity with America’s warriors might say they just like fighting and killing. Those people have never spoken to an officer who has been in a hard fight. They have never heard the cracking voice as he relates the difficulty of looking at people, whether enemy or ally, killed as a result of his orders. They have never heard the anguish of a leader replaying for the thousandth time the loss of one of his own. They did not hear an armored company commander answer a question about how he felt about having his soldiers rebuild schools after fighting to seize Baghdad literally days before. He said, “I cannot tell you how great it feels to be able to stop killing and start helping people.” Such is the overwhelming compassion of those who fight our wars.

The sacrifices that so many generations before us, and our fellows today, have made to keep this country free are truly astounding and humbling. My father and father-in-law served in World War II, as did my mother-in-law [the Beloved Husband reminds me that his mother served after the war, in the occupying forces]. My brother-in-law is retired Army, and my husband is retired Navy. Their examples of courage, honor, and duty are in front of me each and every day.

To the men and women, past and present, who serve our country in the Armed Forces, I give my respect, love, prayers, and gratitude.

To the men and women who will serve our country in the future, I say, look at those who have gone before you. Remember their service and courage, and do not tarnish their sacrifices. You have a lot to live up to, but learn from and follow their example, and you will be the next generation in the unbroken line of bravery, honor and compassion.

God bless - may He richly bless - our military personnel. May He cherish those who have fallen, sustain those who survive, and strengthen those who serve.

(Update) And really, whoever said it better than Abraham Lincoln?

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Cassandra, of Villanous Company, invites us all to light a candle and join with her in this beautiful prayer:

Dear Lord:

On this Memorial Day, gather gently the souls of the fallen. Shelter them under Your loving arm, as they protected us during their time on earth. Comfort their families. Send them happy memories and replace their tears with the peace of knowing their dear ones are in Your care. Anoint the wounded with the balm of Your love: ease their pain and speed their healing.

For those on the battlefield, we ask courage and strength to face the trials and dangers of war. Hold them safely in the palm of Your hand and grant them safe return to their families. And if they must fall, may Your light shine upon them to guide the way home.

We thank you for our brave coalition allies, who defied a storm of world opinion to stand with us in this fight. Bless our leaders with wisdom and courage. Give them strength to withstand those who would undermine them during this difficult time. But above all, make us worthy of the sacrifice made on our behalf by our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Help us to live up to the ideals they fought and died for.

And never let us forget their service or their sacrifice.

Castle Argghhh - the Donovan - has two long posts up, here and here (read them in order), about 2LT Cowherd and his family. After the LT was killed in action, his father-in-law talks about how they're doing and how things are being handled, and how well his 23 year old daughter has stood up under the death of her husband. I cannot do adequate justice to these two entries - please go read them for yourself.