Monday is Memorial Day. It's not about a holiday, cooking out with friends and family, or taking a weekend trip.
It's about sacrifice and death.
It's a day we should honor those who gave their all so we could do the aforementioned things. How many of us will take the time to remember what the day is all about? Will we remember the old saying, "freedom isn't free"? Will we take the time to realize there are thousands of our young men and women in harm's way even now?
Most of the men in my family served in the military. None were ever drafted. No heroes here, we gave, but we did not give all!
We were spared the ultimate sacrifice; thousands were not so fortunate.
So when you fire up that grill, pop open your beverage of choice, take a minute to thank those who made it possible and recall these words, written by Lt. Col. John McCrae (1872-1918):
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
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 falling 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.
CURTIS CASEY
Durham
Hypnotic hype
Deregulate. Trickle down. Less government. You're getting sleepy; your eyes are getting heavy.
The communists are taking over. Where's the birth certificate? Shut out everyone who isn't white. Drill, baby, drill. You're getting sleeeepy, oh, soooo sleeeepy.
Ban gay marriage. Rewrite history. The death panel squad is near. Deregulate. What is the definition of torture? I don't recall. You're getting sleepy; you're almost sleeping.
When I count to 10, you will wake up in the right-wing Rovian dark ages.
BOB VASILE
Durham
