Memorial Day

For The Fallen

They went into the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted:
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we are left to grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condem.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
                                     
                                      - Laurence Binyon

I attended several memorial services in Iraq in '04-'05 and '08-'09.  Young men and women whose lives ended in a roadside bomb or a snipers bullet.  The services were usually the same; rifle pointed into the ground with a helmet on top and boots at the base.  There was a picture of the Soldier in uniform.  But also with family, children, other brothers-in-arms.  Words, prayers, tears, hugs - never exactly right and never enough to mark the loss of someone in their prime.

Today all of those families across many generations and many conflicts will remember.  To quote Lincoln, "It is altogther fitting and proper that we should do this."

As I approach thirty years of service I know that the concept and act of war is enduring.  It has exisited for thousands of years as we have tried to hoist flags of nations or religions over one another.  War is enduring.