Friday, May 22, 2015

Memorial Day Check List

            This weekend, we’re planned to write something truly inspirational about all those brave men and women who answered our country’s call and gave the last full measure of their devotion, fighting for freedom from the Halls of Montezuma to the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq. We even planned to show you a lot of patriotic videos, like this one.

          Hurley the Historian said we should review how Memorial Day has its roots in a post-Civil War holiday called “Decoration Day,” explain how observance of the holiday has changed over the years, and urge that the legacy never be forgotten.

Others said this weekend we should march in a parade with flag-waving politicians, watch John Wayne and Audie Murphy war movies all day on TV, or cut weeds at a Veterans Cemetery, while trying not to feel guilty about ignoring living conditions for those poor, mistreated Al Qaeda terrorist detainees at GITMO, where they all get three squares a day and better health treatment than our injured veterans, along with all the prayer rugs they could possibly use and free air conditioning.

In Anderson, you could always pay respect for the lives of so many service members who have given their all for the sake of our freedom at the Memorial Day Bell Ceremony Monday at noon at the Anderson Center.

Maybe that’s why our Quote for Today Committee chose a trio of quotes from The Duke: “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway,” “Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid,” and “If you’ve got them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow.”

More Patriotic Commentary Later