America's Honor - The stories behind Memorial Day

The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 28, 2007 | Peter Colier

[Zakeet]

Once we knew who and what to honor on Memorial Day: those who had given all their tomorrows, as was said of the men who stormed the beaches of Normandy, for our todays. But in a world saturated with selfhood, where every death is by definition a death in vain, the notion of sacrifice today provokes puzzlement more often than admiration. We support the troops, of course, but we also believe that war, being hell, can easily touch them with an evil no cause for engagement can wash away. And in any case we are more comfortable supporting them as victims than as warriors.

Former football star Pat Tillman and Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham were killed on the same day: April 22, 2004. But as details of his death fitfully emerged from Afghanistan, Tillman has become a metaphor for the current conflict--a victim of fratricide, disillusionment, coverup and possibly conspiracy. By comparison, Dunham, who saved several of his comrades in Iraq by falling on an insurgent's grenade, is the unknown soldier. The New York Times, which featured Abu Ghraib on its front page for 32 consecutive days, put the story of Dunham's Medal of Honor on the third page of section B.

[Snip]

We impoverish ourselves by shunting these heroes and their experiences to the back pages of our national consciousness. Their stories are not just boys' adventure tales writ large. They are a kind of moral instruction. They remind of something we've heard many times before but is worth repeating on a wartime Memorial Day when we're uncertain about what we celebrate. We're the land of the free for one reason only: We're also the home of the brave.

[Zakeet]

Mr. Collier wrote the text for "Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty"

This article contains several stories of incredible courage. It is well worth a read.

[EGPWS]

those who had given all their tomorrows, as was said of the men who stormed the beaches of Normandy, for our todays. But in a world saturated with selfhood, where every death is by definition a death in vain, the notion of sacrifice today provokes puzzlement more often than admiration.

Sad, however true.

God bless our troops!

[nmh]

As I age, I have even more respect and affection for these brave souls. They make my “tough” times in life look silly. Truly they are heros ... may they all be in heaven for their bravery and help to keep us free!

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Tribute to our soldiers by a 15-year-old...definitely worth watching! Bring your kleenex!!!
http://www.youtube.com/p.swf?video_id=ervaMPt4Ha0&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//img.youtube.com/vi/ervaMPt4Ha0/2.jpg&t=OEgsToPDskIUhV_kaBCRCnS6jyVnCqdB&autoplay=1