In Memory

Yesterday was Memorial Day, a day in which we remember those who have given their lives in the pursuit of defending the freedoms we enjoy.  It is a strange irony but our country was founded out of a pursuit of peace, yet for our entirety we have had to pursue war to maintain it.  Some may argue about certain wars, the futility of war.  Vietnam is a good example, as are the more recent conflicts of our current century.  Whatever we may think or believe however, our men and women have always tried to stand for the stalwart, upstanding values we all hold dear.

Army Sergeant First Class Leroy Arthur Petry is a good example of this.  For those who aren't familiar with him, he is the only living recipient to be awarded the medal of honor in several generations.  Petry's story has been all over the news, how he went back for his fallen companions when they were ambushed by Taliban in a secluded valley in Afganistan.  On Sixty Minutes, Petry described himself as a mediocre soldier, no better or worse than any of the other men.  His humility, selflessness, and righteousness should be an example to all of us.

Petry and other soldiers fight for people who will probably never see real conflict like what is going on overseas.  The constant bombardment of rockets and the threat of attack isn't some vague concept debated by conservatives or liberals, its real.  Men and women die by the hands of others, violently.  The pictures of the true horror of war are not often seen on television or in the news.  We like to keep it out of our minds I think.  But on this day, of all days, we try to remember, to think about those who have given and are giving their lives for us.

In my view however, this is not enough.  We need to think of our soldiers every day.  We need to hear more of their stories, get more of them involved.  The amount of elderly, homeless veterans in America is 16 percent.  This is astounding.  We should have none, no homeless veterans.  The thought of these people, these brave men and women living under a bridge is a travesty to our country.  We should be ashamed, no we are ashamed.  We look the other way.  We spend billions on war, but nothing on our wounded warriors.  I've said it and said it again, we need to do more.  For them and for the memories of all veterans.