Memorial Day, a Sacred Remembrance

But the bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. Thucydides (460 BC-395 BC)

“The soldier, above all other men, is required to practice the greatest act of religious training---sacrifice. In battle and in the face of danger and death, he discloses those divine attributes which his Maker gave when He created man in His own image. No physical courage and no brute instinct can take the place of divine help which alone can sustain him.”      General Douglas MacArthur

Memorial Day 2012 is a time to reflect upon the national treasure, heavily laden with mostly youthful dreams and boundless vigor, that over time, has been offered upon the sacred altar of liberty. The selfless sacrifice, a fulfillment of an oath freely taken, was offered to ‘protect and defend the Constitution’ and our cherished way of life.

It all began at sunrise on the freshly greening fields of Lexington on a foreboding mid April  day in 1775. By sundown in Concord, 49 patriots had died and 39 had been wounded, both black and white, and many from the same congregation. “The shot heard round the world”, as later immortalized by Ralph Waldo Emerson, rang out and thus began a legacy of supreme giving that now extends to the barren, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. To date over 1.3 million Americans have died in the service of the nation.

In order to fully appreciate the magnitude and impact of this sacrifice it is instructive to review certain factors. Among these, the two wars that took the greatest proportional toll, the Revolutionary War and The War Between the States, were fought on American soil.

It is estimated by some historians that as many as 8000 American patriots were killed in action and some 17,000 died as prisoners of the British forces during the Revolutionary War.  That would have been almost 1% of some 3 million colonist and 3% of all patriots. Moreover, that is approximately 8.5% of all those who served in the Continental forces. Few armies have survived, let alone won wars, with such heavy losses. In proportion to the current US population, the military deaths alone would be 3 million. This is roughly the current size of our entire US armed forces. Ponder that a moment.

The War Between the States, beginning 151 years ago, resulted in over 625,000 (364,500 Union and 260,000 Confederate) war related military deaths. This represented a sustained rate of 600 per day and totaled 1.9% of the entire American population. Often the order of magnitude of events, such as the devastation of wars or natural disasters, is lost in history. Consider this; a comparable proportional rate today would be on the order of 6 million military personnel to say nothing of the havoc on the economy and the culture in general.

You may not be aware that the actual, though unofficial, origin of Memorial Day can be traced to Charleston, SC and to the present day Hampton Park. In 1865 this area, known then as the Washington Race Track, had been turned into a temporary prisoner-of-war camp. During the camp’s operation over 200 Union prisoners died and were buried on the grounds in a mass grave.

Soon after the Confederate surrender the bodies were exhumed, mostly by former slaves, and properly re-interred individually in a marked cemetery, complete with white picket fence. All of this was accomplished in a 10 day period. On May 1, 1865 the Charleston newspaper reported that up to 10,000 people, mostly black residents, including 2800 school children, attended the new cemetery’s dedication. The ceremony included a procession, sermons, singing and a picnic on the grounds. This event in Charleston was, in fact, the first Decoration Day that, over time, evolved into Memorial Day.

On Memorial Day 2012, all who love liberty must take time to reflect upon this tapestry of selfless sacrifice so carefully woven into our national heritage. If possible, purpose to make it personal by remembering a classmate, friend or neighbor who has “given all”. In so doing I will also pause to thank God for, as Jefferson said, “the gift of life and liberty”.

I always try to concentrate on the ever fading memory of my 44 squadron mates (Navy Seawolves) or others I trained with or were in school with. Yes, they were warriors once and young…Nilon, Jim, Antonio, Mark, Dan, Paul, Jose, Bill, Richard…I do remember them…I must never forget them.

“Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus

Developed by:

John R. “Barney” Barnes

Cdr                      USN® 

20 May 2012