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The Daily Signal
A Memorial Day Like No Other in the Era of COVID-19
Thomas Spoehr
May 22, 2020
This Memorial Day, during the time of COVID-19, will be different from all others.
Many cemeteries likely will have new restrictions, making it more difficult for visitors to pay their respects.
Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for more than
400,000 active-duty service members, veterans, and their families, is
closed to the public, although family members of the fallen can still
visit.
Many Americans, even if they wanted to, might not be able to visit a
memorial or a cemetery due to stay-at-home restrictions. Flags normally
placed with care at military graves might not be there this year.
Big Memorial Day parades with marching bands—like the one that Chicago traditionally has—have been canceled.
And amid the grief caused by the deaths of more than 93,000 Americans
from the deadly virus, the economic devastation accompanied by the loss
of millions of jobs, and for some, the despair of home isolation, some
might feel less inclined than normal to pause and remember those who
sacrificed their lives in the defense of the country.
That would be unfortunate.
As we have been reminded of late of the bravery and selflessness of the
medical professionals serving on the front lines of the COVID-19
crisis, it’s similarly appropriate once a year to stop and remember
those who gave everything they had in the defense of the country.
That’s because Memorial Day is a day where we both celebrate their service and grieve for their loss.
Many were taken just on the cusp of adulthood, sometimes as young as
15, such as Pfc. Dan Bullock, who altered the date on his birth
certificate to join the Marine Corps as a rifleman. He was killed in
Vietnam in 1969 when a satchel charge was thrown into his bunker.
But sacrifice isn’t limited to the young. Army Maj. Gen. Harold “Harry”
Greene was 55 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan in 2014.
Greene always had a smile and a quip, followed by a hearty guffaw, to
lighten the tense moods. Greene now lies in Section 60 in Arlington
National Cemetery, surrounded by other such heroes.
They came from all walks of life—rich and poor, men and women, diverse
religions and backgrounds—all united in a common goal; namely, to
answer the call of the country. Certainly, none wished to die, but they
believed in something greater than themselves, and uncommonly acted
upon that belief.
Many military units make a special effort to remember the service
members who died in their ranks. The 3rd Infantry Division (nicknamed
“the Rock of the Marne”) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, for example, plants
a crape myrtle in honor of every soldier who died while serving in the
division since April 2003.
In a somber reminder of the price paid by that single division, 469 such trees have been planted.
President Ronald Reagan captured the motivation of these patriots when
he said, “We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something—for
liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting
for, worth devoting our lives to.”
Even though the cemeteries might be closed and the parades canceled,
ways remain to remember those brave men and women. Perhaps with a
thought, a prayer, a toast, and if you have children, perhaps a
conversation with them about what Memorial Day really means to us as
Americans.
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