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I manage the Trustee program for the Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce. During introductions on Thursday, 22nd, the Mayor of Coral Springs, Scott Brook asked us as citizens to join the Memorial Day service at Veterans Park on Monday the 26th. I thought to myself.....I know Memorial Day is every year, why have I never attended this event?
My Mom and I walk most mornings so all weekend long I badgered her to borrow a second bicycle so we could bike to the park as it would be a little too far to walk there and back in the Florida heat. By Sunday night, still no second bike so I reformulated our plan. We'll drive to the nearby Albertson's and walk to the park from there since I knew the parking at Veterans Park was just a few spots.
Up in plenty of time to make it to the park for the 9 AM service, I was so pleasantly surprised to see a lot of people there and of course plenty of cars parked in the swale (oh well, I told Mom we needed the exercise anyway).
The service had its perfunctory side to it and beyond that it was beautiful! I thought I was going to come out of my skin when they fired the guns as I did not hear that part for the preparation of the noise. Hearing the speaker was strained since we stood in the back because we were dressed rather causal for our walk and didn't feel respectful enough of our presentation in attire. This was not an issue as most people were dressed casual or comfortable. (It is Florida in May and already in the 90 degree range.)
I learned a lot from that service. I did not know that there were 6 flags that fly for the services. 5 flags for the Armed Forces and the 6th for prisoners of war or missing in action men and women. I did not know that each division of the armed service had a ethos and that all of them included, "No comrade will be left behind".
I was impressed by the beauty of the flag waving in the breeze at half mast. I was saddened by the tears from men and women who had given and suffered for us to be able to enjoy our freedom.
No one in my immediate family has been in the armed forces that I was aware of until Mom and I walked and she told me about her uncles and her step father and others that had suffered from the devastation of war. Today my oldest daughter is in love with a marine who is on his way to Iraq, so we are living closer to the activities of this war with her emotional torment and upheaval in wondering is he OK and when will he be home?
I had the privilege to live in Singapore during the Vietnam war. My Dad had a flying service in Phom Penh, Cambodia. He told us kids that he flew supplies and ammunition. After he was killed, many years later in the states, we found out lots of things we never knew about dear old Dad. I just thought he was a nerdy pilot and of course my Dad who I loved very much for the adventure he gave us kids.
Back to my point of Memorial Day.....this war and most wars, many of us do not agree with and then there are those who make a dedicated commitment to defend the rest of us from further or future harm. These are an amazing group of people, whether you agree with them or not. They do what they do for us and when tragedy occurs for them it should be front page news and not buried on page 27 as one of the Majors said in the presentation. To commit to give up your life for another, now that is front page news in my opinion.
Whatever way you can in the future, find a way to say thank you for those that fight for us.
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