When I think of Joe the Soldier…
I remember when my parents took me to see the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was very young and the Memorial was one stop of many as we took in as much as we could on our brief visit. We toured the FBI building, the White House, the Capitol Building, and the major monuments, museums, and memorials. It wasn’t Disney World, but I had a good time. I remember being upset that we couldn’t climb the Washington Monument because of construction and the such, but then we hit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and I scored some uncut $2 bills. I liked D.C., it was clean (I clearly spent most of my time in touristy spaces), it was grand in scale, and it felt important. With all that I experienced on the trip, however, seven year old AverageTodd’s most vivid memory, the video I can still see when I close my eyes, is of the Vietnam Memorial.
It was not just the impressive span of the black wall, the uncountable number of names on its facade, or the fact that I was at the spot from the Time-Life commercial (Who won the war, daddy?), that I recall. What I remember most dynamically were the people at the Memorial. Approaching the wall felt like entering a bubble. The wind died down and the silence was deafening. Some people were stoically searching, others in quiet contemplation. People (strangers?) were embracing and I watched my mothers eyes glass over and then leak. The emotion was inescapable. I did not understand fully what I was witnessing but I certainly grasped the gravity. I asked the questions of a young boy. Did you know these people? How many people died? Why were we fighting? I’m sure I got answers, but it was the visceral reaction to the visual spectacle that I remember to this day. That is what I think about on Veterans day. Crying friends, widows, sacrifice, lives lost. I think about that wall, the real power of that symbol, and I think about the people, the Veterans.
My generation has a variable view of Veterans Day. I asked my friend Eric Hartman what he thought of, the images that came to mind, when he thought about Veterans Day. His mental picture is always of the servicemen and women of World War II. But he is also quick to add that he doesn’t honor Veterans differently based upon the conflict in which they served, their branch of service, or the existence or extent of their injuries. I think this is important to note because sometimes I fear that we do differentiate between such things. But Veterans Day is about service and sacrifice of individuals, indifferent to the politics of conflict. Vets didn’t choose their conflict, they followed orders. Those serving now are risking the same life that their grandfathers risked. The stakes are no different.
Everyone is going to conjure something different on Veterans Day, separate images, icons, thoughts. The commonality should be that we honor the people who have kept us safe, secure, and free. We should honor them equally and earnestly. And Veterans Day should remind us that these people did/do not sacrifice one day each year, they deserve a constant honorarium. Every day someone cries at that big black wall in D.C. Every day.
Thanks to all who have worn the uniform.
What do you think of on Veterans Day?
1 Comment
November 11, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I think of a young 25yr old man who was like a son to me, the husband of my middle daughter, the father of my 2nd grandson.
I think of the (nearly) year we worked side by side, day in and day out, riding together in my work van talking about all sorts of things.
I think of how fortunate we were to have him in our lives for a few short years.
I think about the love he had for the Afghani people… especially their children.
I think about what he must have felt when he saw three (Muslim) Afghani Army Nationals laying wounded on the battle field.
I think of the loss for, not only our family, but (really) the community he was a part of.
You can see more of my thoughts here.
http://mssc54.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/veterans-day-2008/
Enjoy your freedoms, for they are expensive to maintain.