MEMORIAL DAY 2006
Ladies, gentlemen, children, distinguished guests, visitors, veterans, friends and neighbors:
Welcome to Twain Harte's Memorial Day Flag Dedication, Parade and Picnic. We are most fortunate to live in this small, wonderful community which still treasures our nation's values. A genuine thank you to everyone who made today possible...
My name is John Baldwin, and like many of you, I served in our armed forces. I join everyone here in offering our utmost thanks to you veterans, men, and women, and to those families who sent their sons and daughters when their nation called.
Memorial Day, however, is not to celebrate those of us who were so fortunate to return home alive. There is another day for that, November 11, and it is called Veterans' Day. Memorial Day began very simply, during the Civil War, when Southern women brought flowers to beautify the graves of their fallen sons. It became official in 1868, and was called Decoration Day. The South had lost nearly 500 thousand men, and the North almost 400 thousand, and it took an entire generation for the bitterness to pass... when, after World War I, and another 400 thousand Americans lay dead, both North and South came together on May 30th in Arlington National Cemetery. As we speak, over 1 million, seven-hundred thousand Americans have died in the service of their country beginning with the Civil War. And they were, in the flower of their youth, and this tremendous loss to our nation in talent, creativity and intelligence can never be imagined.
When I was a little kid, there was no three-day weekend. If May 30 occurred on a Wednesday, well, that was the day the parade was held. I remember putting red-white-and blue crepe paper in the spokes of my bicycle and riding alongside veterans in a parade. I recall wondering how those old men could have fought in a war. Now I know! We all were soldiers once and young... and yes, we are the lucky ones. We came home. Almost two million did not.
Over the years, the Memorial Day tradition has diminished, and this solemn day has become "the beginning of summer", a 500 mile-automobile race, a giant national barbeque, a trip to the lake, three days out of work and school and also a dangerous day on America's highways. That is the way it is. It is not bad; it is part of the heritage of freedom... it is good, and those who lie beneath the white crosses would probably smile, but then again, they missed it all.
However, should you visit the 168 empty chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, should you gaze on the heartbreaking rooms full of shoes and eyeglasses at the US Holocaust Museum, or should you stand in silent awe gazing at the unending rows of white headstones in Arlington National Cemetery, you will quickly understand the value that our nation and its soldiers have placed on human life and freedom. You will also count your own blessings.
Do not hasten through this Memorial Day. Remember the 153,000 men and women who serve, as we stand here, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Remember that on any given night, more than 190,000 veterans of our wars find themselves homeless, without shelter.
Three PM today is called the "National Moment of Remembrance" in every time zone. Just take a moment to remember the good souls whose memories are a blessing to you and your own family. Enjoy a minute of silent reflection. It will not ruin your weekend. Tell your children what today really means. Teach them the values that those who died and cannot share this beautiful day would have them understand. Above all, take the time to honor our fellow Americans who gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and for the freedoms we cherish every day.
Thank you all. God bless America.