Memorial Day 2021
By Hank Schrader, USMA ’71
Perhaps the most misunderstood holiday in our country is Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors those who have died while on duty in the military services.
However, I am sad to say few folks understand the significance of this solemn day of remembrance. For many people in our country, it is the start of summer and a way to gather with friends and families for a break from work. It is also about selling and buying for many—deals are offered in a dizzying amount to all of us.
Somehow, to me, the whole patriotic purpose has been pushed into the background. It should be a little somber, about fallen comrades, but I guess that with less than 1% of our nation who have served in the Armed Forces, it is understandable. Maybe the best way for folks to understand is the loss of a family member—there is an emptiness that never goes away. We who have served feel the same way about our lost comrades.
Many will say to others—“Happy Memorial Day”, thinking it is an accurate way to say thanks. It really is not a happy time—it is more about refection and recognizing there is something in life more important than a happy holiday. It doesn’t mean we should not express some joy during Memorial Day—just let’s express the joy about those fallen lives and remember them for their sacrifice and the good times we got to share with them. Their loved ones and comrades feel their loss every day but especially on this day and we should also pay our respects, even if for just a couple of minutes or so.
The Memorial Day holiday has its origins from the end of the US Civil War—it was originally called Decoration Day. Although the correct purpose of this holiday is to recognize those who actually died while on active service, for most American it also includes those who served their country and have passed on. I know I personally honor my Dad on this Day, even though he did not die on active duty but later in life after his retirement. He was lucky—he served in 3 wars and made it out alive. Many he served with did not.
In some functions in the military, especially formal dinners, we always toast our fallen. Almost all who have served, know a comrade who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is deeply personal—usually a vibrant life taken way too soon. One of my classmates, a 3 star general, always carried a notecard with every soldier’s name who died during his command assignment in Iraq wherever he went. He told me it was a constant reminder of decisions he made during combat came with costs, and those costs were soldier’s lives. It is not an easy profession, leaders very often put their soldiers in harm’s way—it is unavoidable but necessary to accomplish the mission.
Maybe as a tribute to these fallen, I will tell you most often they reflected in their wartime service, the values of Army soldiers. These values are: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. While these are the official Army’s values, maybe they should be our national values. There would be no better way to honor these soldiers, if we could all live our daily lives embodying some or all of these values.
This is a hard blog to write—the sheer numbers are staggering from the 5 major conflicts from WW II to present that have affected my 71 years on this earth. According to Wikipedia, combat deaths were:
WW II (1941-1945) 291,557;
Vietnam War (1955-1975) 47,434;
Korean War (1950-1953) 33,686;
Iraq War (2003-2011) 4,424;
The War in Afghanistan (2001 to present) 1,833.
This does not count the other operations during my lifetime or the American Civil War and World War I. From 1775 to 2019, there is a total loss of 666,441+ by combat deaths and 673,929+ by other causes during these war periods. It also does not count the missing 44,031+ missing or the 1,498,240+ wounded.
Despite this tragic tale, most of these fallen are buried in our national cemeteries in the United States and Overseas and are the symbol to us of their sacrifice. These places are dignified and respectful.
The American Cemetery in Normandy, France
The American Cemetery in Luxembourg
It is like Arlington Cemetery, where my father and mother are buried—they use similar markers for each deceased, regardless of rank, but each has his or her legacy engraved on the markers, including their war time service and highest military decorations. It is a very fitting tribute to their service of our nation.
My Dad’s Grave marker in Arlington National Cemetery
June 9, 2021 will be the 50 year anniversary of my graduation from West Point. I never served personally in our declared conflicts in a war zone but shared the grief of loss of too many I personally served with. They upheld the Army Values and I remember them, as do others who served with them. The helped make our country a better place and deserve our respect and thanks.
Maybe this would be a good day to reach out to someone who has lost a soldier that you know—I promise you it will be meaningful to those left behind.
My Final Thoughts
While researching this blog, I realized how many members of our Armed Forces scarified their lives against nations determined to defeat us and impose their will upon our country.
I hope you will take a few minutes to reflect on this monumental effort and the cost to many who made the ultimate sacrifice.
They deserved to be remembered and honored. I hope this blog did them justice and I hope you will remember them also.
May we never forget—be thou at peace to each who gave so much for our country.
Hank Schrader, Major (Infantry) USA Ret.
