Today, Americans across this nation and around the world will pause to observe Memorial Day. Since its first official observance on 5 May, 1868, when it was called Decoration Day, it has been a day of remembrance for those who sacrificed and died in our nation’s service. And while it was originally dedicated to honor Civil War soldiers, we know it today as a time of reflection to honor and respect those who fought to protect the liberties that our Founding Fathers proclaimed with certainty in the Declaration of Independence and that were so thoughtfully and carefully framed in the Constitution of the United States.
In his proclamation to set aside this day in 1868, General John A. Logan, Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, instructed our nation to “…cherish tenderly the memories of our heroic dead who made their breast a barricade between our country and its foes.”
During the Revolutionary War more than 25,000 lost their lives in the initial pursuit of a freedom they believed in but could not yet fully comprehend. In the Civil War almost 600,000 gave their lives as the very foundation of this nation was challenged from within its own boundaries; WWII claimed the lives of more than 400,000; and scores of others gave their lives in conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Somalia and the Persian Gulf.
Today, America continues to realize the never-ending sense of duty that our Armed Forces have as they serve our nation. In each instance, without regard to politics or the popular opinion of the moment, our nations’ finest citizens have picked up their arms to take on the awesome task of fighting for our freedoms and to push back the threats to liberty throughout the world.
Since 2003 I have deployed five times to Southwest Asia with my Air Force Reserve C-130 squadron, flying and fighting with men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. We fought jointly against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Africa. We fought in climate extremes from sub zero in the Afghanistan mountains to over 130 degrees in southern Iraq. This was a humbling experience because every day I would watch young volunteers risk everything - exhibiting courage, valor and selflessness in the face of our country’s enemies. I consider each one of them heroes.
Over the past 11 years, 6,460 soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen have given their lives in the terrible duty that are the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. On one cold January night in 2004, my crew and I had the distinct honor to carry the remains of FIVE fellow soldiers out of Baghdad on the first leg of their journey home.
I cannot adequately describe the feelings conjured up by the sight of two caskets being loaded onto my plane, and then a few hours later being told there were three more. I physically hurt as we worked silently to configure the back of the airplane to accommodate the placement of the large, cold metal boxes.
As the caskets were unloaded from a large refrigerator truck and carried up a ramp onto our plane, my crew and the airfield ground personnel formed a makeshift honor guard. We used flags we carried aboard our planes to drape over the caskets; the blue field of stars placed in the upper left hand corner to cover each hero's heart.
When the last casket was loaded, the flag draped and secured, a Chaplain who accompanied these troops to the plane gathered us around the caskets and conducted a short, poignant service, including a reading from Psalm 23:
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear
no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
An hour and a half later, in Kuwait City, we reversed the process: We formed an honor guard at the rear of the airplane and stood at silent attention, saluting as the flag-draped caskets with our fallen comrades were slowly carried, one by one, down the ramp and slid into the back of another truck for transfer to a second aircraft heading home to the United States later that day.
We did this twice in one long, bone-chilling night. By the time we landed back at our base I was wrought with countless emotions: pride that I could be a small part in these heroes' journey home, sorrow for their families' loss, sadness at the sudden end to lives cut much too short, anger towards the people who did this.
It was a very sad and emotional experience, but I'm glad I was there to be a part of it. I would like to think my aircrew made those soldiers' journey a dignified one, in keeping with their sacrifice for their country, and the land where they died.
Since that memorable night, at least 42,000 men and women have died or come home on stretchers; many horribly wounded and facing months or years in military hospitals. Thousands more suffer from the effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries and Post-Traumatic Stress. My unit carried many of them, and it has been a distinct honor to move each one closer to home.
Today, as we gather here on THIS Memorial Day, let us make it a priority to care for the broken warriors who have returned home after sacrificing their lives and bodies at the call of their nation. Let us pray for the soldiers who remain on the battlefield, alive and well, doing their best to bring peace and security to lands that have been bereft of it for so long their people don't realize life without misery is even possible. And finally, let us remember and honor those brave men and women who have answered the call of their country and traveled so far only to fall in battle so that we may live in freedom.
Remember them, but do not grieve. In the words of General George S. Patton: "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
Thank you.
