Memorial Day in Scituate

Memorial Day to me is one of those holiday's that can't be reduced to one day a year. Even with Veteran's Day, 2 days seems so little but that's what we have to work with here in the USA.

Because of that the USA is in a sorry state when it comes to remembrance and also in general US history. I can remember in elementary school always reading the last few chapters of the history book (essentially just after the Great Depression to present) as we never covered it in history class. We always seemed to run out of time for current events or current history. Maybe in a good year we got into WWII but that was rare and hard to focus on in the heat of June with single digits days left of the year.

I asked recently at our Cub Pack's crossover/campfire who knew of what happened 65 years ago on June 6th. The date came up since it was also the date of an event we are attending. Not one child could answer it. Not one?! Of the adults I only saw a small amount of hands. My son was among those boys as well that didn't know.

For me I shudder at the thought of what occurred that morning June 6th 1944 when Americas finest slogged through the channel waters onto French soil as part of their job of attacking Hitler's Atlantic wall. To their left and right the British, Canadians and others landed in the face of machine gun fire. The only difference was the terrain. Imagine hearing the throttle of the boat slow and drone down while the pinging of bullets increases all knowing that the steel between you and those bullets was about to be lowered?! IF and that was a big IF you made it out the ramp all that awaited you was bullets, bloody cold sea water, beach obstacles and the dead bodies of those that arrived earlier than you. IF you made it past that the sheer cliffs and grenades dropping down greeted you and congratulated you on making it to solid ground. I could go on but there are far better authors out there with more well researched volumes of facts for you to read. They'll tell you in far greater detail just what occurs when the meat meets the steel on a cold Atlantic beach.

Sadly I think this is nothing new. Regularly when certain dates come up and if you ask someone about it. Oh let's say December 7th, the answers are the same. No idea at all of what that date may historically hold for the USA. No idea that to our Grandfather's and Father's generation, December 7th was THEIR September 11th. You ask them where they were that morning they first heard of the attack and they'll tell you with emotion as if it happened yesterday. Yet today, our morally bankrupt generation has already FORGOTTEN what those two dates truly mean to the USA. Already forgotten? Yes I say to you and submit today that many in America do not recall September 11th and what happened that day. Don't bother asking them about December 7th.

So Monday morning my youngest son and I walked around the Scituate common's prior to the arrival of Americas well fed, well rested and well protected men, women and children (yes including myself). We spoke briefly with a man who served in the Navy as part of WWII and I believe his wife who had four brothers all serve (and return). I thanked him for his service. We then walked around the green sun filled commons. We paused and reflected upon each of the monuments and took a photo. I tried to ensure that the names were visible on each as well as the whole monument. Why? I prayed as we walked that my son would not be like the rest of America that maybe in some way he would understand what so few of us do today. That what we have was won through battle hard fought and hard won. By Men, of whom many in America today are not fit to even salute. I do hope that the boys of today understand and appreciate the boys of yesterday. The same boys that floated in the waters off France or in the calm waters of Pearl Harbor. Or the boys that ran by carrying their rifle to bring the battle home to the enemy.

After our walk we enjoyed the ceremony that took place. I was delighted with the veterans that attended, those that after all those years stood some with flags a few with rifles. Bet most in the audience couldn't tell you what model the rifle was, M1 Garand for those that care. Some sat in chairs after briefly rising for our national anthem sung well by a young woman. Most stood on the sun filled field proud to have served. Those that couldn't rise, owed nothing to the audience for not being able to. They earned their seat and should sit proudly. There were those from the police and fire departments as well that stood along with many other civic groups. A Boy Scout troop stood silently and paid proper respect throughout the ceremony. What made me sad was that there was the constant drone of people around the edges of that sun filled field. A constant chatter among the crowd that made it hard to hear the speeches and thanks that were given from the stage. It was a long ceremony and I whispered to my son several times if he wanted to go to the shade but he didn't. I was glad that we stood there for the time and I hope he took away from it a sense of reverence and respect. I knew that they had a flag raising ceremony coming up and we moved over to watch and see them fire the rifles. We were not disappointed. Two young women played taps, one echoing the other sure it wasn't perfect but it was well played none the less. Then the sharp report of the rifles barked out three times. Some people jumped, I heard a baby cry but for once silence did fill the air it held as the flag was brought back to the top. The men filed away back to their assembly with the other veterans. The children as they should were anxious to gather the shell casings, I went with my son and found one for him. He marveled at it. I told him it might have come from his "Uncle Mike's" rifle as he knew one of the men in the rifle salute. Soon it was over, back home we went thanks to those veterans and their sacrifice.

I have posted the photo's and hope that you take a look at them. Each town has similar things and I encourage you to go seek those out in your own community. I hope that scout leaders will also take the time to bring their scouts to these monuments as many are spread out and are overlooked. I know that many scouts marched in the parades throughout America but do they truly understand why they march? I hope that they do understand and appreciate why they spend the morning of their day off from school participating in a community event.

Did you thank a vet personally yesterday? Did you shake that hand and look them in the eye and truly mean it? If you didn't I encourage you to do so as many of those "boys" are passing away in record numbers and the day will come when all we will have are the names on a monument.

Link to Photos! or cut/paste: http://share.ovi.com/album/cphobes.2009MayMemorial



-Stephen