Make it a Memorial Day

My friends,

Bear with me as I reflect on Memorial Day...It has always been a significant holiday for me.  Long before I connected with my Dad's role in the service, I was a peace activist.  I also had a mind open enough to see the commitment to our way of life behind whatever policies were being enforced at the time.  I've read many books about troubled times, and am part of the generation that fought in Viet Nam and came back hurt, confused and unappreciated. 

 "The Lord of the Rings"trilogy gave me  a different perspective on war .    Tolkien himself had seen so much of battle that returning to academics was always tinged by his experience.  To live a life without appreciating sacrifice was not fathomable to him and was played out in his writing.  For me, the key to the story was at the end, when Frodo returned to the Shire.  It had been overrun by "Sharkey's" bullying gang; his family was thrown out of their homes, the Shire had been burned, ransacked, and politically compromised by outsiders with a terrorist agenda.  And amidst all these concerns, the total environment that had been so long protected and taken for granted was polluted and laid waste.  Enter Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippen, who had given so much to protect their way of life.  The cost was dear, and the homecoming bleak.  Sacrifice by these seasoned warriors seemed almost pointless.  

I believe with all my heart that for war and sacrifice to have meaning, we must live the best lives we can.  That does not mean the richest, most extravagant life, but the most meaningful.  We owe our military members at least that much.  My favorite movie is "The Best Years of Our Lives", because it deals with the aftermath of war.  Even as the heroes were appreciated, the effort at home to give them opportunities lagged, and the transition was not easy.  Today is no different.  My sons in uniform face difficult choices every day, and just the thought of a possible lack of employment makes the decision to leave the service a tough one to make.

So today and everyday I will remember to make a good life, as they and so many others have made that possible.  And to my future grandchildren I say "Keep on Keepin' On."