Celebration

 In recent years I have heard about celebrations of life instead of funerals. At first I didn't understand what that was and had mixed feelings about that.Then my sister passed. A celebration of life was held for her and it was a wonderful thing. All those that knew and loved her gathered together. Her life was celebrated, her accomplishments and contributions recognized. I celebrate her still. She remains with me always.

 This being memorial day weekend I am reminded of those that lost their lives in defense of our freedom. As we all know, or should know, memorial day was originally called decoration day. It was a day to decorate the graves of those that had given their last full measure of devotion. Was it a celebration? Yes you could say that was the intent. Families gathered in the cemeteries across this land to remember, to commemorate those lives. Speeches were given , picnics enjoyed, and the old stories told and retold. There names were spoken and their accomplishments recounted. An annual celebration of life. The funerals had been held, and this was a promise to be kept. We will never forget. A promise made once again when the twin towers fell. 9/11 is what we say and it is a date. A date I will never forget. Sadly there are many today that don't remember the year of that event, of that tragedy. All that is remembered is 9/11. I'm grateful we remember those that lost their lives that day, their names are spoken. 

 Decoration day, memorial day was established following the civil war. It was a form of reconciliation. The underlying cause of the conflict was to be set aside and the lives lost remembered. Brother had fought brother, families torn and the nation wounded. Much in the same way the nation had been wounded on 9/11. Initially it was the cause of the tragedy that was remembered. Today we are being told to set that aside and just remember the lives lost. A reconciliation, a forgiveness? Consider another date that lives in infamy. December the 7th 1941. What is remembered now? The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. But it is remembered as an event from history, not a personal experience. Have the Japanese been forgiven? Have those that supported slavery and the southern cause been forgiven? For some, history haunts them. 

 The day was chosen carefully. May the 30th. In the four year conflict we know as the civil war no major battles were ever fought on that day. That was the reason the day was chosen, so as not to commemorate one side or another. All lives are equal in value regardless of the cause they may support. All life is to be celebrated. No matter the conflict, no matter the reasons behind those conflicts, lives were taken. We often speak of sacrifice. I don't believe that is the case in combat. Lives are taken, violently and without thought. It has to be so, the only way a soldier can cope with the horror of war. A sacrifice is freely given in the hope of a return. The object on the battlefield is to survive. And Memorial Day? A day to remember, a day to celebrate those lives taken! A celebration of life, for those that had their lives taken in exchange for my freedom, shall never be forgotten.