MEMORIAL DAY 09
“On fame’s eternal camping ground their silent tents are spread and glory guards with solemn round the bivouac of the dead.” (Theodore O’Hara, “Bivouac of the Dead”).
A story on Sunday Morning (CBS) brought tears to my eyes. There was a tour of Arlington Cemetery where there were over 200,000 flags placed on the graves of the fallen. I appreciate those who have served, and I think it is important for us to remember. In scanning the cemetery, the camera stopped at a gravestone. The name on the stone: “Unknown.” I was chilled to the core.
The old and feeble men/women walked in a halting manner, carrying a flag and a bugle. When they stopped at the Veterans Cemetery, they were unknown, but, when they sounded the horn, I knew them.
Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes spoke in memory about his friends who died in WW II. He remembers them every day and not just on Memorial Day. His proposal was to end war and celebrate a ‘peace day.’ What a wonderful idea.
No man can resist the temptation of being able to steal and kill at will if he was certain he could get away with it (Plato, The Republic, found in the myth of Gyges). If Plato was right, and I fear that he is, we will never have peace.
When I see a military cemetery, I wonder where we would be today if we had not lost all of those lives. How many inventions and medical discoveries are buried with these soldiers?
In keeping with my self-imposed ritual, I visited Cave Hill Cemetery. Flags were placed on the graves of the honored dead. Old glory marks most of the graves, but the confederate dead are also honored. Many of the stones only have a number. No one knows who is buried there.
I frequently stop at 2306 and contemplate who he may have been and what was lost by the death of this unknown soldier.
There are dozens of markers with only a number. Others will have to help me contemplate the others unknown. There is much to think about but very little time. Some of the graves of officers have more impressive markers. When I see an impressive marker in a military cemetery, Thomas Gray is always with me.
Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
(Thomas Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard”)
No, the storied urn cannot give the occupant of the grave one additional breath and, like 2306, the officer was lost before his time.
In deep sorrow and respect
I remain,
Don Heavrin
Your servant of truth in the Garden of Life.
A story on Sunday Morning (CBS) brought tears to my eyes. There was a tour of Arlington Cemetery where there were over 200,000 flags placed on the graves of the fallen. I appreciate those who have served, and I think it is important for us to remember. In scanning the cemetery, the camera stopped at a gravestone. The name on the stone: “Unknown.” I was chilled to the core.
The old and feeble men/women walked in a halting manner, carrying a flag and a bugle. When they stopped at the Veterans Cemetery, they were unknown, but, when they sounded the horn, I knew them.
Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes spoke in memory about his friends who died in WW II. He remembers them every day and not just on Memorial Day. His proposal was to end war and celebrate a ‘peace day.’ What a wonderful idea.
No man can resist the temptation of being able to steal and kill at will if he was certain he could get away with it (Plato, The Republic, found in the myth of Gyges). If Plato was right, and I fear that he is, we will never have peace.
When I see a military cemetery, I wonder where we would be today if we had not lost all of those lives. How many inventions and medical discoveries are buried with these soldiers?
In keeping with my self-imposed ritual, I visited Cave Hill Cemetery. Flags were placed on the graves of the honored dead. Old glory marks most of the graves, but the confederate dead are also honored. Many of the stones only have a number. No one knows who is buried there.
I frequently stop at 2306 and contemplate who he may have been and what was lost by the death of this unknown soldier.
There are dozens of markers with only a number. Others will have to help me contemplate the others unknown. There is much to think about but very little time. Some of the graves of officers have more impressive markers. When I see an impressive marker in a military cemetery, Thomas Gray is always with me.
Can storied urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeting breath?
(Thomas Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard”)
No, the storied urn cannot give the occupant of the grave one additional breath and, like 2306, the officer was lost before his time.In deep sorrow and respect
I remain,
Don Heavrin
Your servant of truth in the Garden of Life.
posted by Donald Heavrin at 4:06 PM
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