Memorial Day

Before.

That is the Margraten Military Ceemetery. Over 8,000 American soldiers are resting forever there.

This is the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France. Two of President Theodore Roosevelt's sons are buried here: Quentin, who died in the Great War, and Theodore, Jr., who fought in both that war and World War II; he died of a heart attack. He was the first general ashore at Omaha Beach.

This is the Chalmette Military Cemetery in Chalmette, LA.  Soldiers from the Revolutionary War through the Vietnam War are buried here.

From 1775 through today, men and women have gone to serve this nation in both times of war and peace. Many never lived to see their homes again. They did not ask if those conflicts were wise or not. Duty called and they went.

Many more, of course, did come home. Most hale and hearty, others suffering various injuries to their bodies, their brains and their souls. For these veterans, it is the duty of our nation to take care of them (and hang the expense).

We owe to our men in women in uniform, past and present, the fact that 236 years after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, that we are still free to curse and revile our national leaders. That is no small thing.

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General Orders No. 11, which established the first Decoration Day, as Memorial Day was formerly called.