June 1, 2026
This one is also in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, a remarkable achievement… and something else. Since 1776, there have been lots of time for things to go wrong. But here we are, still despite a misstep on rare occasions – blessed in a land of the free and the brave. And that something else relates to this word brave.
It’s Memorial Day. Another holiday. A day off for most. For some others, it is time to consider the wars our nation’s soldiers have fought – and, are still fighting. Some give thought to our fallen heroes. Others may pray for peace. Others could care less. And then the day is gone.
Every Memorial Day, I am reminded of a passage in a book (having read it five times) written by my favorite author. The book: Tales of the South Pacific. The author: James Michener. Published: 1957. Comment: A book every American should read (a comment I have included in the previous seven articles). In part of a passage, a young World War II soldier stationed in the South Pacific expresses his feelings on visiting a cemetery at Hoga Point.
“Before me lay the dead, the heroic dead who took the island. Upon a strange plateau, on a strange island, in a strange sea, far from their farms and villages, they slept forever beside the lagoon which bore them to their day of battle…
If you sit at home and read that two hundred and eighty-one men died in taking an island, the number is only a symbol for the mind to classify. But when you stand at the white crosses, the two hundred and eighty-one dead become men: the sons, the husbands, and the lovers…
Each man who lay there bore with him to his grave some promise for a free America. Now they were gone. Who would take their places? Women? Old men? Or were those who lived committed to a double burden? Theirs and the dead men.”
The relentless passage of time makes it all too easy for some to allow the importance of Memorial Day to pass without a second thought. For some, forgotten are the sacrifices of those who risked and lost their loves for our future and a better world. Forgotten also are those who were asked to recover a few square yards of land. Forgotten are those who never had a chance to love. Forgotten are those who didn’t give their lives for their country but had part of their lives taken away from them. This holiday is for them, and to ensure they are not forgotten.
But who should we and those around the world give thanks to? For some, the answer might be the bureaucrats, politicians, lawyers, etc. For others, it might be doctors or engineers or scientists. For me, thanks would be directed to those who have served or are presently serving in the defense of our great nation. Today, approximately 1.5% of the 300,000,000+ U.S. citizens serve in the military. One can only wonder how much thought is given by those who have not served. Do they really understand the sacrifice by our men and women in the miltary? I feel a pang of guilt every year when Memorial Day rolls around. I am now 92 years old and never served America. The 92 years spanned four wars, including the present war on terrorism and yet, I did not serve. Many others were not as fortunate.
The bottom line is that our nation was formed by men and women of great courage – starting with George Washington to the pioneers who settled the West to Teddy Roosevelt to the Greatest Generation and to today’s heroes who serve. These were truly brave individuals. Hopefully, leaders will soon emerge who will exhibit the vision and the courage to bring about the necessary changes to eliminate / reduce other wars and ensure the future of our great nation.
Finally, the quality of our lives can be directly attributed to those special men and women who served bravely during those horrible periods discussed above. Hopefully, each and every one of us can reflect on those sacrifices and become better human beings. May kindness and understanding, rather than combat and hate, fill our lives in the days that follow so that we may truly celebrate life. May we also work to ensure that our veterans will live out their lives in a healthy, happy, safe and free environment.
Happy Memorial Day to one and all. And God, please continue to bless our great nation.
Visit the author at:
and / or
Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook
NEXT POSTINGS
JULY 1: On Writing a Technical or Term Paper
AUGUST 1: On Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts
SEPTEMBER 1; On Winnie
OCTOBER 1: On Goodbye Baseball, Hello Basketball
ON MEMORIAL DAY VIII
June 1, 2026
This one is also in honor of our nation’s 250th birthday, a remarkable achievement… and something else. Since 1776, there have been lots of time for things to go wrong. But here we are, still despite a misstep on rare occasions – blessed in a land of the free and the brave. And that something else relates to this word brave.
It’s Memorial Day. Another holiday. A day off for most. For some others, it is time to consider the wars our nation’s soldiers have fought – and, are still fighting. Some give thought to our fallen heroes. Others may pray for peace. Others could care less. And then the day is gone.
Every Memorial Day, I am reminded of a passage in a book (having read it five times) written by my favorite author. The book: Tales of the South Pacific. The author: James Michener. Published: 1957. Comment: A book every American should read (a comment I have included in the previous seven articles). In part of a passage, a young World War II soldier stationed in the South Pacific expresses his feelings on visiting a cemetery at Hoga Point.
“Before me lay the dead, the heroic dead who took the island. Upon a strange plateau, on a strange island, in a strange sea, far from their farms and villages, they slept forever beside the lagoon which bore them to their day of battle…
If you sit at home and read that two hundred and eighty-one men died in taking an island, the number is only a symbol for the mind to classify. But when you stand at the white crosses, the two hundred and eighty-one dead become men: the sons, the husbands, and the lovers…
Each man who lay there bore with him to his grave some promise for a free America. Now they were gone. Who would take their places? Women? Old men? Or were those who lived committed to a double burden? Theirs and the dead men.”
The relentless passage of time makes it all too easy for some to allow the importance of Memorial Day to pass without a second thought. For some, forgotten are the sacrifices of those who risked and lost their loves for our future and a better world. Forgotten also are those who were asked to recover a few square yards of land. Forgotten are those who never had a chance to love. Forgotten are those who didn’t give their lives for their country but had part of their lives taken away from them. This holiday is for them, and to ensure they are not forgotten.
But who should we and those around the world give thanks to? For some, the answer might be the bureaucrats, politicians, lawyers, etc. For others, it might be doctors or engineers or scientists. For me, thanks would be directed to those who have served or are presently serving in the defense of our great nation. Today, approximately 1.5% of the 300,000,000+ U.S. citizens serve in the military. One can only wonder how much thought is given by those who have not served. Do they really understand the sacrifice by our men and women in the miltary? I feel a pang of guilt every year when Memorial Day rolls around. I am now 92 years old and never served America. The 92 years spanned four wars, including the present war on terrorism and yet, I did not serve. Many others were not as fortunate.
The bottom line is that our nation was formed by men and women of great courage – starting with George Washington to the pioneers who settled the West to Teddy Roosevelt to the Greatest Generation and to today’s heroes who serve. These were truly brave individuals. Hopefully, leaders will soon emerge who will exhibit the vision and the courage to bring about the necessary changes to eliminate / reduce other wars and ensure the future of our great nation.
Finally, the quality of our lives can be directly attributed to those special men and women who served bravely during those horrible periods discussed above. Hopefully, each and every one of us can reflect on those sacrifices and become better human beings. May kindness and understanding, rather than combat and hate, fill our lives in the days that follow so that we may truly celebrate life. May we also work to ensure that our veterans will live out their lives in a healthy, happy, safe and free environment.
Happy Memorial Day to one and all. And God, please continue to bless our great nation.
Visit the author at:
and / or
Basketball Coaching 101 on Facebook
NEXT POSTINGS
JULY 1: On Writing a Technical or Term Paper
AUGUST 1: On Purely Chaste, Pristine and Random Thoughts
SEPTEMBER 1; On Winnie
OCTOBER 1: On Goodbye Baseball, Hello Basketball
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