On Memorial Day, many parents whose children went on to became part of the US war troops did not know how to react when someone says ‘Happy Memorial Day‘. The day, which is a day of remembrance for many and a day to pray for troops in harm’s way, was seen by military families as a day of disconnect.
Nancy Powell of Colorado Springs, a member of American Gold Star Mothers, said Americans can do many things for connecting with those serving in the military.
From USAtoday.com:
There’s a disconnect every day, but I think it’s felt even more so on Memorial Day,” said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “The average American family goes to the beach or goes to a barbecue. The average military family goes to a cemetery.”
At a ceremony Monday at the national World War II Memorial in Washington, former senator Charles Robb, D-Va., a Marine Corps veteran, told a crowd that Americans may be losing an important link with those the nation relies upon to protect its freedoms. Because the military is all-volunteer, he said, large segments of the public have no family serving and may not know anybody in uniform.
Joe Davis, national spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, said Memorial Day became the unofficial start of summer rather than a day to honor war dead when Congress created a three-day weekend by moving it to the last Monday in May. “We would like to see Memorial Day return to its original date of May 30,” Davis said.
Still, many kept their focus Monday on fallen warriors:
• At Arlington National Cemetery, Vice President Biden said the United States has “a sacred obligation” to provide its troops everything they need to carry out their jobs. He spoke of those who have died. “As a nation, we pause to remember them,” Biden said. “They gave their lives fulfilling their oath to this nation and to us.”
Powell, whose 21-year-old son, Marine Cpl. Kyle Powell, was killed in 2006 during his third tour in Iraq, said that grief is a forever thing and people forget that at times.
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Tags: Happy Memorial Day, Memorial Day, military
