By Michael F. Duggan
Americans love a parade and they love a military hero. I know, my father was one. Forty-five U.S. presidents were veterans and twelve generals became Commander in Chief. Until fairly recently, military service was virtually a requirement for national elective office.
Years ago a friend of mine who worked at a veterans memorial, was asked by some visitors what they could do to contribute (meaning volunteering in a conspicuous way at a symbolic site). He asked them if they had ever considered volunteering at a V.A. hospital. It wasn’t the answer they wanted to hear. Americans love yellow ribbons and bumperstickers supporting the troops, but we frequently lose interest after the parade.
We celebrate our veterans on Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. We celebrate their service and sacrifice. But if we really appreciated the cost of war to veterans, their families, and the country, wouldn’t there be a day set side to reflect on the causes of war and the reasons why we mortgage the lives of young American men and women? If you wish to celebrate the sacrifice of American servicemen and service women, take off one day every year and quietly reflect on the reasons why in recent years the country has gone to war. Whenever you hear or read about U.S. servicemen or servicewomen killed abroad, ask yourself about the wisdom of the policy that put them in harm’s way and if it is worth such sacrifice.
Such meditation might also provide a basis for precluding bad policies. And it is the very least a citizen can do to honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, and marines. Of course we’d have to come up with a catchier name than Policy Meditation Day,