Rethinking Memorial Day

After signing off Monday’s Moderator piece with a wish for a Happy Memorial Day, I received this thoughtful note from Robert L Lindsey:

“I cannot have a ‘Happy Memorial Day’ as you suggest. … It is impossible to have a ‘happy’ time when a person is supposed to be thinking of the thousands of men and woman who have died to preserve our freedoms. How about wishing for, thinking about a Sincere Memorial Day. Doing something about it and meaning it.

“Drive through the Dayton VA Cemetery, observe the white stones and remember, under every one of them lies a body of a person who gave at least part of his life for our freedom. Many … gave up their life at a early age. The Revolutionary War soldier buried there was 12. Count the stones, over 47,ooo of them.

“It is not a happy day for me. I will do a little enjoying, but a huge part will be remembering and doing what little I can to make that public.”

A fine point. Thoughts? Email rrollins@coxohio.com.

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