A Memorial Day Worth Remembering

San Francisco National Cemetary – Memorial Day 2008

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.  ~Joseph Campbell

Andy Rooney in his 2005 “A Memorial Day Worth Remembering” said:

“For too many Americans, Memorial Day has become just another day off. There’s only so much time any of us can spend remembering those we loved who have died, but the men, boys really, who died in our wars deserve at least a few moments of reflection during which we consider what they did for us.

They died.

We use the phrase “gave their lives,” but they didn’t give their lives. Their lives were taken from them.

There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity – war…”

Someone once said that Freedom isn’t free.  Even if you don’t support war, you can support those who sacrificed their lives and those who will in order that we might be here today, enjoying a day off of work or enjoying a BBQ with family and friends.

You can read the full text of Andy Rooney’s editorial here or view the video here.