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Memorial Day is upon us again, and for most of my 69 years on this planet young Americans who raised their right hands and promised to "support and defend" have gone in Harm's Way-and paid the price.
My family has been little touched by the wars of the United States, few served and AFAIK only two lost.
The real meaning of Memorial is best captured by Charles Johnson Post, author of The Little War of Private Post , his account of his experiences in the 71st New York in the Cuban Campaign of 1898. A rather minor affair compared to the Civil War and the bloodlettings of the 20th Century but as Post reminds us:
"Whether a man falls with 20,000 others in some grand battle or all by himself on a lonely outpost, he is a 100% casualty to himself. What more is there to give ?"
My family has been little touched by the wars of the United States, few served and AFAIK only two lost.
The real meaning of Memorial is best captured by Charles Johnson Post, author of The Little War of Private Post , his account of his experiences in the 71st New York in the Cuban Campaign of 1898. A rather minor affair compared to the Civil War and the bloodlettings of the 20th Century but as Post reminds us:
"Whether a man falls with 20,000 others in some grand battle or all by himself on a lonely outpost, he is a 100% casualty to himself. What more is there to give ?"
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