Every year on Memorial Day, communities across the country pause to remember and honor fallen heroes whose sacrifices provided our freedom and way of life. They fought in wars all over the world and many perished as youths and never had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits they conferred on the rest of us. Hundreds of parades and ceremonies give well earned tributes and thousands of small American flags will respectfully dot the landscape of cemeteries and fields.
If some of these fallen heroes could be revived for Memorial Day, they would undoubtedly show their appreciation and gratitude for the tributes provided for them.
More than likely, however, they would also pose a few questions that deeply concern them about the actions and attitudes of those they left behind. This includes citizens and governmental leaders entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the privileges and opportunities they fought to protect. Those questions might include some of the following:
How can American citizens attack the Capitol building, causing death and destruction of parts of the building- and somehow claim to be patriots?
The British are no longer endangering the militia. How can the Second Amendment still be invoked to allow the public to have guns primarily used by unstable citizens to kill hundreds of innocent children and adults in mass murders every week. Doesn’t common sense dictate that the country should ban them?
How can anyone in the country not praise the work and commitment of Dr. Fauci who probably saved as many lives as we did?
How can so many members of Congress spend all their time screaming insults at each other and witnesses in hearings when there is so much work to be done and so many people in dire economic straits and spiritual ruin after the pandemic?”
Why can’t elected officials vote their conscience anymore instead of acting like members of a cult required to follow a deposed leader who still won’t admit that the country voted that it didn’t want him around anymore.
These are probably just a few of the inquiries that our fallen heroes would pose to us on Memorial Day if given the chance. And most of them would undoubtedly sacrifice the tributes they receive in exchange for some good, honest answers to these questions. Unfortunately, on Memorial Day, 2021, there are no good answers.
Perhaps between now and Memorial Day 2022, we should honor the memories of the fallen by collectively figuring out responses to a few of them.
Steven E.Kramer, a Mashpee resident, is a former Greenfield resident and a 1971 graduate of Deerfield Academy.