'We Did Not Die For … This!' — A Memorial Day Message

Too Good Reports ^ | May 26, 2003 | Paul E. Scates

[EBUCK]

It was a dream, I think. I opened my eyes, aware of something … someone … else in the room. I edged my hand toward the pistol in my nightstand, then started at his voice, soft and calm: 'No need for that, my friend,' he said, 'You're in no danger from me.' Somehow, something in his voice told me it was true, and my pounding heart subsided; I breathed again.

Squinting, straining to see, yet he was only a shadow, darker than the rest. Before I could ask what he wanted, he began to speak, 'I'm sorry I startled you, and I know you have questions, but if you listen, they will all be answered. You and I were both chosen — I, because I was in your war; you, because you think of us … because you remember.'

'What do … ,' I tried to ask, but he went on, 'I've brought a message, Paul. It's the last message … and we want you to give it to the others for us, because we can't. You see, once we were all what you, too, were – simply an American who was willing to serve. We were Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen; but our end was one you did not share … we died in battle, fighting for this nation. In over 200 years, we have been allowed to contact the living only a few precious times. And this time is the last.'

I heard a sob … then realized that it had come from me. The sorrow in his voice was that which I had hidden in my heart so long ago, and that long-buried grief had come unbidden to the surface. Knowing who he was, and what had happened to him and the others, brought an anguish and dread, as if I already knew what he was going to say. 'That's why you were chosen, Paul' he said, and paused. Fighting back the tears I dared not let start, I struggled to regain control, as he continued.

'Listen, most of us weren't all gung-ho, you know, anymore than the others. And we sure weren't interested in that giving-our-lives-for-our-country stuff, believe me. You remember how it was: we were just looking to come back home in one piece. We just did what we knew needed to be done, because it's our country, and we felt we owed it that much, you know?' Yeah … I knew.

'Listen, because this is the last time, I'm allowed to give a personal message, and some of the guys there knew you, and they wanted me to tell you hello. Billy Bennett is one; he said he wished you guys were still playing ball together … and Larry Duke, the guy from Georgia who got killed in the chopper crash right after you left country. He knows you tried to contact his folks to give them that picture you had of him, and he really appreciates it. And Bobby McJunkin, the kid brother of your classmate David. Remember Kenneth Rubbo, the guy who got married in Monterey right before you all came over? And Michael Sprague, the California kid who was always smiling … ' And as he went down the list, the tears came in a flood, but strangely mixed with sudden laughs and joy at memories of those forever-young faces, and the things we'd shared in school or on ball fields, or in boot camp, infantry training or language school. Memories of guys I hadn't even known had been killed came flooding back, along with the places and the things we'd done and shared. It was almost as if they were each there with me, talking and laughing, like we were just reminiscing about old times. Almost.

After what seemed like hours, he paused again … and after a few seconds, I realized that he'd finished with the greetings from those whom I had known. The strange mix of elation at the crystal clear remembrances and heartache for their deaths slowly faded, replaced by a somberness at what came next. From 'my war' and every war our country has fought, all the way back to the beginning, he had brought a message … a message to the Americans who yet lived, and who enjoy all the blessings of freedom and opportunity they had all lost to death. The weight of that responsibility made me tremble.

'Paul, we don't want fancy words or sentiment; everyone was agreed on that. In fact, we agreed almost unanimously on what to say, and we wrote it down, so there'll be no misunderstanding.' And then, with a deep breath, he began to speak, slowly and carefully, and this is the message he gave to me, for all of us in these United States who enjoy the blessings and freedom and joys they gave up:

'On this Memorial Day, 2003, we for whom this holiday has been set aside have a message for all living Americans. It is not to benefit ourselves, for nothing will give us back the lives we lost. The message is rather for you, the living. For the children, grandchildren and other family members we never got to know, to love, to share our lives with.

We send this message by right of the sacrifices we made for the nation we loved, and in acknowledgment of the freedoms and lives we've made possible for you … all of you … who came after us:

How is it you think solemn ceremonies or rites honor us, or our sacrifice, when you have abandoned the freedoms and principles for which we died, and given them into the hands of bureaucrats and professional politicians? We died as citizens fulfilling our acknowledged duty as citizens , but you disdain such duty as though it is beneath you. Without our performance of that duty, however, what chains or rags would you be wearing today, instead of enjoying freedom and prosperity? We who died for those things neither want nor accept the false honor from you who refuse the inconvenience of American citizenship. Perhaps we should we tell you how 'inconvenient' death is?

Those who were there at the beginning of this nation know what was meant by the words of the Constitution. It was purposely written in terms of morality, for moral and ethical behavior applies in every generation, no matter the technological or societal changes. It is about men and their behavior, about governments and their dangers, and about active participation of citizens in the governing of their own lives. To what people, and in what era, do these things not apply? That Constitution means today what it meant then, and those who say otherwise are liars … or fools.

We who never got to see our children grow up, or even to have children, who never got to experience the everyday trials and irritations of which you complain … we did not die for … this! For a self-centered, immoral, divided America, whose people accept the mindless ideas of a self-anointed elite and an intrusive massive government that has always been the main threat to freedom. We took a vote, and it's unanimous: None of us would have died for the nation you have created! If you want to truly honor us, then restore this nation to its Founding principles, put God back in His rightful place, as the center of it all, and make some effort to protect those precious freedoms, whether from foreign foes or domestic demagogues. Otherwise, your shallow 'patriotism' and insincere praise do not honor, but insult. Because you weren't called to pay our price, do you think you need not pay any? This country rests on its citizens actions; we did our part … how dare you neglect yours?' 'That's it, Paul,' he said quietly; 'Just write it like I read it, please.' I hung my head in shame at how my generation has trivialized the sacrifices of all those who gave their lives for our nation, making possible the freedom and prosperity we have. And when I looked up again, he was gone.

When I awoke this morning, I thought about the message, and about all those I knew who had died in Viet Nam. And that got me to thinking about Korea, and WWII, and Iraq … all the other wars where young men had died to preserve this way of life we take so much for granted. And I said a quiet prayer, thanking God for them and their sacrifice. Then I arose from my still-damp pillow, pondering on these things, and on my dream. It was a dream … I think.

[joyce11111]

THANKS FOR THE PING

[c-b 1]

If you want to truly honor us, then restore this nation to its Founding principles, put God back in His rightful place, as the center of it all, and make some effort to protect those precious freedoms, whether from foreign foes or domestic demagogues.

Sadly it is very true. What are we going to do about it?

[Brad’s Gramma]

BTTT for later read.

[donmeaker]

my favorite Memorial Day story is this.

During WWII a group of politicians came to Italy to be entertained. Lucian Truscott III got called to give a speech at a military grave yard.

He turned his back on the visiting dignitaries, and quietly apologized to the dead soldiers for his failings which put them there.

Why wasn't the war stopped before it began? Why wasnt the Army more ready? Why were our weapons not better? Why were our tactics not more dominant?

He left without shaking their hands.

[FBD]

Remember Me America

Remember me America,
For I was once your son.
I fought and died at Valley Forge
with General Washington.

I was there at Gettysburg,
on that tragic, tragic day.
When brother fought against brother,
the Blue against the Gray.

I rode with Teddy Roosevelt
on the charge up San Juan Hill.
Some came back to fight again,
but I just lay there still.

I went to France with the A.E.F.
to bring the peace to you.
I was twenty one, and full of fun,
I never saw twenty two.

I served on a U.S. submarine,
the bravest of the brave,
Until a German depth charge
gave us a watery grave.

I bombed the Polisti oil fields,
they went off with one big roar.
But in the attack we were hit by flack,
I’ll never bomb anymore.

In Korea I heard the CO shout,
We’ll make it, I’m sure we will.
I gave my life to try and take
A place called Pork Chop Hill.

Viet Nam, Viet Nam,
When will we ever learn?
I’m one of fifty nine thousand,
Who never will return.

And so in my eternity
My thoughts are all for thee.
I’ll never forget my America,
I pray she remembers me.

[Grampa Dave]

Our church has a stained glassed window dedicated to a young 20 something pilot who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the air raid in your poem. He never came home to the the family, friends, community and church that he loved.

I bombed the Polisti oil fields, they went off with one big roar. But in the attack we were hit by flack, I’ll never bomb anymore.

[Don W]

I'm surprised. nobody has called you names like: "Losertairan" or "Libertine" yet. Good heavens, go back to Constitutional government? "The horror, the horror"

[FBD]

Hi Dave,
I heard that poem read by a WWII vet at a Memorial Service today. The man knew every word by heart, and he read it (by memory,) just before taps were played.

It really was a touching service. I got a copy of it from him, but it didn't have the authors name on it.

[Grampa Dave]

I don't know who wrote it. I believe that it was posted last Memorial Day and Veterans Day on FR.

[WellsFargo94]

Thanks for the message, and thanks to all who have, and are serving our great nation under God.

[ppaul]

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U.S. Memorial Day, May 30

"Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day.
No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

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In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

:

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Copernicus]

Fred Reed made a similar point back in 1980.

Click Link for Complete Column

*****************************************************

Suddenly the veterans were among soft, proper people who knew nothing of what they had done and what they had seen, and who, truth be told, didn't much like them.

Nor did some of us much like the people at home-though it was not at first a conscious distaste. Men came home with wounds and terrible memories and dead friends to be greeted by that squalling she-ass of Tom Hayden's, to find a country that, having sent them to Viet Nam, now viewed them as criminals for having been there. Slowly, to more men than will admit to it, the thought came: "These are the people I fought for?" And so we lost a country.

It wasn't exactly that we didn't fit. Rather, we saw what there was to fit with-and recoiled. We sought jobs, but found offices where countless bureaucrats shuffled papers at long rows of desks, like battery hens awaiting the laying urge, their bellies billowing over their belts. Some of us joined them but some, in different ways, fled.

[blackie]

Thanks Eric ... very appropriate!

[EBUCK]

The achilles heel of the whole ball of wax is that what's been happening is illegal...educated folks know this. The problem is that there are too few educated folks (and half of the educated folks are happy to let it stand because they are benefiting)...educate!!!

Buy/rent/borrow copies of the Federalists/Anti-Federalists, read them (I know it's hard but is laziness a good enough excuse in the face of this article?), then pass the info on!

Our Government is not what was intended nor is it what was mandated. The plain language of our charter has been co-opted but the the entire scam rests on the illusion of legality and the knowlege that the sheep will never know the truth. Know the truth and pass it on, that's enough.

[NEWwoman]

Thanks for posting this. It's beautiful. It's sad. It's what Memorial Day is all about.

[Prof Engineer]

Thanks.

I went to the FReeper picnic in Dallas yesterday. At the time I thought "it's cool to be be here with like minded people"

Today it occurs to me the wonder that is America. That we CAN have gatherings like this.

[EBUCK]

That we CAN have gatherings like this.

For now. We used to take for granted things like Privacy in our Homes, the RTKABA, taxation WITH representation, and the like. How long until Free Association is counter to the safety of the Free state?

[Central_Floridian]

Very good! I really liked it. Keep it coming!!

[Sparta]

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