By VERNA BROCK
This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day. Considering this is the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, this commemoration seems particularly meaningful. First celebrated as Decoration Day following the end of the Civil War, members of the Union GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) soon established it as Memorial Day. North, South, Black and White – soldiers and their families honored those lost during the War Between the States. It was first held at Arlington Cemetery on May 5th, 1868.
The Civil War was catastrophic, with an estimated 850,000 soldiers dead and another estimated 750,000 injured. The number of civilian dead and injured has never been calculated, but total casualties are thought to have easily exceeded 2.5% of the total population, an astronomical number at the time. The Civil War remains, to this day, the bloodiest conflict the U.S. has ever experienced, and one with devastating social consequences.
The long road through history has led us to today and the nation’s 250th birthday. The way has been neither straight nor easy. One way survivors chose to heal was by remembering the losses, and forgiving the other side as much as they could. Recognizing the sacrifices of patriots has been an important part of that process.
Now, more than ever, we are called to salute our defenders, honor our dead, and work to ensure their values are preserved. There’s a difference between patriotism and nationalism. True patriots understand the importance of upholding the Constitution and its guaranteed rights for all our people.
Our path to equality and freedom continues to be a winding one, with many detours, bumps and even an avalanche or two along the way. But when push comes to shove, our citizens have always found a way to work together for the common good. Somehow, our belief in the ideals upon which this country was founded manages to prevail.
Every generation must be both idealistic and realistic, and always vigilant against threats from within and without. Protecting and maintaining precious rights like freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of, and from, religion, the right to assemble, and to bear arms—this is all of our responsibility.
This is the perfect year for each of us to recommit to doing our part to ensure our descendants have another 250 years to celebrate!