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I wonder if that is an appropriate greeting, considering the basis for Memorial Day.  Memorial Day was established to honor those soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen (men AND women) who gave their lives for the defense of this country and/or its values.

So, I question whether the greeting “Happy Memorial Day” should be used.  Maybe something more somber, but I don’t know what would be appropriate.  Surely, the friends and families of those who died do not find this a “happy” day.  From my own personal combat experience, I can tell you that I remember my buddies, my fellow soldiers, who died quick but horrific deaths, on this special day.  I don’t think of those memories as “happy” memories.  I think of them with sadness and a sense of awe for the few people I knew who died and for the many I never will know who died.  I find myself wondering what they thought in those last seconds of life.  I wonder if they felt that their death was meaningful, or just a tragic waste.

If we could poll the war dead, I suspect we would find a broad range of responses.  Probably, the great majority would not have wanted to die in that time and that place.  They may have thought about it before it actually happened…but since most soldiers are young, they probably thought they were invincible and nothing bad would happen to them.  I remember having those very thoughts as I flew combat missions as a helicopter door gunner over South Viet Nam…UNTIL I lost a crewmate just five feet from me.

Some of those who gave theirs lives did so with full knowledge that they likely would die.  Some of them have been honored posthumously with awards and decorations.  Others did so anonymously.  I think of the two special forces troopers who voluntarily protected the crew of a helicopter that crashed in Mogadishu, Somalia.  Surely they knew full well that they most likely would NOT survive, yet they willingly made that sacrifice.  Oh, to be in the company of such heroes!

In this time of partisan politics, let us hope that all Americans recognize and honor the sacrifices our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines give daily…not just the deaths, but merely the act of going forth knowing that one’s life and limb is in danger.  The level of courage demonstrated by these young men and women every single day is awesome.  To mar their service with partisan politics would be disrespectful, inconsiderate and down right wrong.

Memorial Day is past, but that doesn’t mean that we should stop thinking of all that our military folks do for us every day.  We should spend a moment each day thinking about those dedicated people and maybe take a little time to pray for them.