Remember Those Lost to War

Remember those we have lost in war with gratitude this Memorial Day
by Donna Teresa

On Monday, Americans all over the world will join together to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Finding the perfect words to write in tribute to these men and women are hard to find. I’m looking out the window this evening and the sun has set. The mountains are so beautiful on this clear, warm California night. The moon is glowing and the stars are out. I have the privilege of getting to enjoy this glorious sight. My children are safe at home and at peace. As a parent, we sometimes lose ourselves, worried about things that are not so important and miss out on the things that are.

For the Gold Star families who have experienced the loss of a loved one to war, there is the heartbreaking reality that they will never get to experience the small and big moments that civilians all take for granted…

A wife will never grow old with her husband. A husband will never hold his wife again. On her wedding day, a daughter will not have the joy of having her father walking her down the aisle. Parents never get a chance to see the grandchildren they always wanted. Newborn babies will never get to meet their fathers. Children will never feel the comforting touch of their mother’s hand. I read stories of what families miss the most, and they are simple things like hearing that familiar voice, unique laugh, and special smile.

Parents miss that kid smell on the clothes that only a mom and dad can appreciate. One mom said she would’ve loved one more chance to touch her son’s face, another said she missed touching her daughter’s beautiful hair. The response was in the majority, just to have one more chance.

I was reflecting on trip I had taken to Washington D.C., and I remember looking out the window of the taxi and seeing Arlington National Cemetery to the right of me and I looked at the rows of headstones that seemed never ending.

When I had the chance to visit the cemetery, I tried to walk as many rows as I could and touch the tops of as many headstones as I was able to. The grounds attendants, who take such wonderful care of the cemetery and are so very nice, were walking by and were watching as I did this. I told them I wasn’t crazy, I had traveled across the U.S. and wanted to have the chance to say "thanks." They said "M’am, no one is crazy who comes here to pay respect to our men and women in uniform, you just keep doing what you’re doing." And I did.

I wanted to share a portion of Abraham Lincoln’s "Gettysburg Address" that I felt worth remembering this Memorial Day:

"The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they fought here and have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall have not died in vain, that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

In honor of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, renew your commitment on making this country a better place to live. In your community, a veteran lives. Before it is too late, thank them for their service and appreciate them. And let us remember our fallen not just on Memorial Day, but everyday.

"For the love of country, they accepted death," James. A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, said.

With gratitude, please remember them all.

Donna Teresa can be reached at donnateresa@sbcglobal.net.