Memorial Day should always be a day that warrants our respect and appreciation.
The further you are from the reality of something, the easier it is to forget its significance. It used to be that war directly affected most Americans, but now many of us only feel its consequences indirectly. Our nation has been at war for more than 10 years now, and our troops (and those of our allies) continue to risk their lives daily. Thankfully, we are scaling back the required sacrifice, but the loss of even one soldier is a tragedy, let alone the 6,717 who have given their lives in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. The loss is a heavy emotional burden that families will feel for generations. We also shouldn’t forget the life-altering injuries that tens of thousands of our troops have suffered and the devastating psychological consequences of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave “the last full measure of devotion.” Throughout the history of our country, the number is well more than 1 million lives lost. While most of us will spend the weekend having fun and enjoying the unofficial start of summer, we should take a moment to reflect on the significance of the day. Many brave souls risk their lives daily so we can maintain our freedoms here at home. I’ve decided to share two brief film clips from the special movies Saving Private Ryan and Taking Chance, which do a better job of reflecting on what I am hoping to convey:
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