Memorial – the origin of the word dates back to 1350 AD, from the Latin root memorialis meaning “for or containing memoranda“. I am pondering our nation’s Memorial dawn-to-dusk salute of our heroes, fallen and survived. Of history back to our founding, of current conflicts. The very essence and nature of our heroes – to protect that which we cherish and value more than anything – our republic, our freedoms and our country.



Reflecting back to memories of my youth vivid stories come to life. A grandfather’s recollection of being trailed by a Japanese submarine while aboard an American destroyer en route to India, 1942. Depth-charge explosions against the underwater foe were no comforting slumber-aid to the man. A man of 17 years of age away from his new bride and family for 4 years. It still seemed to him like yesterday.



Or another grandfather, unable to attend overseas thus recruited to engineer the very warrior-vessels housed of steel and flesh that were sent off thousands of miles to fight. Welding-torch in hand this man, also a ‘kid’ by today’s standards, helped fashion our fleet in Long Beach, California. Years of toil and sweat for the war-effort, it seemed to him like yesterday.



Or of the Twin-Towers falling on that fateful morning of September the 11th, 2001. Of the shocking reminder to a culture that in many ways has forgotten – our freedoms are not to be taken for granted or voted away to the bullhorn-demagogue of the day. For that as soon as we forget, they shall be gone…..