Memorial Day

All too often, Memorial Day means sun, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, the Indy 500 and the opening of the summer season. We may remember why this holiday was created--to honor those killed in our wars--but we quickly put that thought aside to get on with the celebrations. (It didn't help when the holiday was moved from May 30th to the last Monday of May, making every Memorial Day a 3-day weekend.)

So, dear reader, spare a thought for the poor folks who died from Lexington Green to Iraq, from Midway to the Bulge, from Antietam to Chosin Reservoir. And take a moment to think of those left behind, who died a little when their loved one perished.

Perhaps one epitaph may stand for all. It's from the grave of a Marine sergeant killed on an until-then all-but-unknown South Pacific island called Guadalcanal:

And when he gets to Heaven,
St. Peter he will tell,
"Another Marine reporting, sir,
I've served my time in Hell."