Memorial Day

I remember talking to veterans while I was at Genesis, talking about their military service. I quickly learned that they didn’t care to talk much about their experiences because the memories were ugly. General George Patton said, “War is hell.” I can’t imagine the ugliness these veterans have experienced. We who haven’t served in the military and never experienced combat duty have no idea. Veterans who were fortunate enough to return home alive were changed for life. 

Whether it be Omaha Beach at Normandy in the Second World War, or Korea, Vietnam, or Desert Storm, these veterans watched soldiers die right beside them, sometimes with gruesome images that linger in their memories. It should not be difficult to understand why they don’t talk about it. Neither should we be surprised that many who returned, came back with emotional issues, PTSD, etc. 

There are opportunities to honor our veterans, and we should. But this weekend is an opportunity to pause in memory of those who gave their lives; they gave everything they had so that you an I could enjoy the freedoms that we have been afforded in this land of the free and home of the brave. Will you remember them and the gold star families whose lives erupted in grief when their sons and daughters came home in flag-draped coffins? Will you pause to remember? Pray for our veterans who experienced war at its worst and try to understand.