Today is Monday, May 25, 2020. Today is also Memorial Day. A day set aside to honor and remember the men and women of the Armed Forces who, as President Abraham Lincoln so eloquently said on November 19, 1863 in Gettysburg Pennsylvania, "gave the last full measure of devotion." In years past, there have been parades. I remember attending parades as a child then going to the cemetery. The graves of the fallen members of the Armed Forces were in the front. The tombstones were small and white. Each grave had an American Flag on the side of the tombstone. Flags were flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full staff. The men and women of the Armed forces who are honored on Memorial Day lost their lives serving their country. Some died in combat. Some died as a result of suicide bombers, landmines, surprise attacks. Some died after they completed their duty and were unable to cope with horrors they saw during their military service. Some died from the indifference of a country that should have been grateful for their service, but wasn't and neglected them. Whether their lives were lost during or after their service, they are all deserving of our gratitude, respect and honor. For the families they left behind, this day must be difficult and they, too, deserve our gratitude, respect and honor.
This year is different. This year the United States, like so many countries, is dealing with COVID-19, more commonly known as Coronavirus. The flags have flown at half-staff through Memorial Day weekend per order of the President of the United States. There were no parades. This year, unlike past years, the flags flying at half-staff not only honor the fallen men and women of the Armed Forces, they also honor the lives lost to Coronavirus. As of today, nearly 98,000 lives have been lost. Among the lives lost as a result of this pandemic, are the essential workers. The doctors, nurses, and other hospital employees, the police officers firefighters and paramedics, the grocery store workers and all other workers who did their jobs despite the risk they faced. Like the brave men and women of the armed forces, they, too, "gave the last full measure of devotion." They are all deserving of our gratitude, respect and honor. For the families they left behind, this day must be difficult, especially since it comes so soon after the losses as well as while the losses are still happening and they, too, deserve our gratitude, respect and honor.
On November 21, 1864, a little over a year after delivering his speech at Gettysburg, President Lincoln wrote a letter to Mrs. Bixby. He had been told she had lost five sons. Although she not lost five sons, perhaps those who have lost loved ones as a result of military service or essential workers as a result of coronavirus can find some bit of solace in these words from President Lincoln. "I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save." At Gettysburg, President Lincoln called on the citizens of the United States to "take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion" and to "highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain." Are we not called to do the same?
“Highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” Is there a line of text more fitting to the current situation the world faces? Our frontline medical workers have, for months, witnessed horrors unimaginable. They have risked their own lives to help save the lives of so many others. They’ve brought a semblance of comfort to those whose lives were unable to be saved, doing all that they could to make sure those poor souls did not die alone. They have made, and continue to make many sacrifices for their fellow human beings, because one of the basic responsibilities we all have is to protect and defend one another. Many of these frontline workers have given their lives in order to help others. They are true American heroes.
ReplyDeleteOn this day and each day hereafter let’s view our actions not in a selfish light as we have done for far too long; instead, let’s view our actions with cognizance of the consequences those actions can have on those around us. Weigh your wants against the needs of others. Is your want for social liberation and entertainment truly more important than the health and life of others? Is your preference for having your nose and mouth exposed for all to see a valid reason not to wear a mask, which does nothing less than increase the odds of protecting others? Do you think it fair to make our frontline healthcare workers continue to risk their lives just so you can continue to risk the lives of others? Let’s do all we can to ensure that we do not add to the death toll. There are 100,000 reasons why being responsible and selfless is so important right now. The needs of the many should always be held above the wants of the few.
Your post is so beautiful and eloquent. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou’re welcome, and thank you for sharing this post. It’s important history to know and an important message to all.
DeleteThank you.
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