Saturday, May 31, 2008
Show some respect on Memorial Day; show up
From the RoundTable blog
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Robert Craig
Craig, USMC Ret. Col., served in Vietnam as a Company grade officer. He lives in Roanoke.
Despite frequent references to my extended misspent youth, I don't often think of myself as old. I think of old as a state of mind. I know people in their 20s who are "old." They are very boring.
However, every so often something happens that reminds me I am in far reaches of the second standard deviation from the mean of the average age. At such times I don't feel old, I feel like a curmudgeon.
I've lived long enough to remember when we had national holidays that honored people such as Lincoln and Washington or events such as Armistice Day (now Veterans Day) and Memorial Day. Now we have federal holidays, conveniently designated to provide three-day weekends so Americans can climb in their vehicles, drive mega-miles and spend, spend, spend. For the time being, the gas crisis and credit crunch may have put the kibosh on that.
I was 5 years old when World War II ended. I vividly recall sons and brothers returning, parades with banners flying and bands playing on the real Memorial Day. Afterward, there were trips to the cemetery at the edge of town where flags with 48 stars were placed at the markers of the fallen from all wars.
I remember this as an activity the entire town participated in, but at 5, things seem bigger.
Since then I've served in the military, participated in many parades, found out my parents were smarter than I thought, and married a woman who has patience and understanding. Together we raised a family and now find ourselves in a state called retired. That means I don't go to work every morning. Instead, I go to Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea, have coffee, a bagel and, often, interesting conversation.
Not surprisingly, I also find things important to me now that were not important to me 20 years ago. Similarly, things that were important to me 20 years or 30 years ago don't show up on my current radar screen.
When it comes to honoring our nation's military, past and present, I am bemused by the hordes of "patriotic Americans" who wear an American flag lapel pin, have "Support the Troops" bumper stickers, but would never dream of actually serving or encouraging their children to do so. That is for others to do.
I have more respect for the combat veteran who carries an "End the War" placard.
These thoughts were prompted by the brief Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Lee Plaza, where Roanoke's war dead are listed. The crowd was small, perhaps fewer than 100.
One gentleman who attended was proudly wearing his uniform (I can't fit in mine), highly polished (non-regulation) cordovan jump boots, jump wings with four stars (he missed Africa), European campaign ribbons attesting to eight campaigns, a Presidential Unit Citation with one star and the highly prized Combat Infantryman's Badge. I'm sure his 80-something body would object to jumping out of an airplane today, but it didn't object to showing up for the Memorial Day ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, I perused The Roanoke Times for the city's proclamation. It didn't issue one, as it should, or I missed it.
As for the ceremony itself? I saw and chatted with Councilman Sherman Lea. He attended on his own volition, not as the designated city council representative. Missing were our "esteemed" outgoing mayor, the Rev. Dr. C. Nelson Harris; Vice Mayor David Trinkle; outgoing Councilman Bev Fitzpatrick, who has never knowingly done anything wrong; Councilwoman Gwen Mason, our green advocate; outgoing Councilman Brian Wishneff; and Councilman Alvin Nash, who doesn't have the common sense to resign.
Also not attending were Class President/Mayor-elect David Bowers, who would have had to share the spotlight with Rep. Bob Goodlatte; his Democratic challenger, Sam Rasoul; and Brig. Gen. Alan Farrell, who came down from VMI. Nor did I see Councilwoman-elect Anita Price.
Funny thing, I have this peculiar idea that it is incumbent upon public officials to do certain things as a duty. Showing up on Memorial Day, because they are public officials, is one of them. Picking up trash from the Roanoke River is optional.
However, that's just my opinion. I'm sure the council members not attending Monday's ceremony will have American flag lapel pins proudly displayed at the next council meeting.
