Published on
Tuesday, June 2 2020
Authors :
Memorial Day has traditionally come to signify the end of school and the beginning of summer. It was also a time that signaled the start of the vacation travel season, with most of us eagerly anticipating trips to the beach, the mountains, amusement parks or even exotic foreign destinations. While the COVID-19 virus can’t change the calendar, it, along with government policies in response to the pandemic, have significantly impacted most of the rest of these activities, with school already in recess for a couple of months and most vacation plans either cancelled or postponed. The virus and associated lockdowns have done much more than that to negatively alter not just our personal lives but also the health of our industry and economy and sadly has damaged the health or even ended the earthly lives of too many people. While we are seeing very hopeful signs of victory over the virus and an unshackling of the economy, it is certainly normal for us to continue to be focused on the remaining uncertainties which lie ahead. It is also understandable, considering some of the actions taken by governmental entities during this pandemic, to be worried about a potential erosion of the freedoms that so many have fought and died to preserve over the years. We remain confident that our country will overcome the challenges of today just as we have overcome much greater ones in the past. These past victories were accomplished because of the ultimate sacrifices so many brave and selfless men and women have made and for which they are honored on Memorial Day. Today’s blog is dedicated to those Heroes and also to the frontline health care and public safety workers who have lost lives fighting this latest enemy.
Due to limits on large group gatherings and other social distancing restrictions, most of the events that are normally held to honor our Fallen Heroes were cancelled or significantly altered yesterday. Hopefully some of y’all did take the opportunity to participate in the scaled down commemorations or perhaps engaged in an individual activity such as a visit to a cemetery or memorial. If not or even if you did, I hope you will set aside some time today to reflect on their sacrifices. To help you do this, I have included three of my favorite Memorial Day pieces in this blog. The first, “Decoration Day,” is by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to honor Civil War heroes and was published shortly after his death in 1882 when Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day. Although the Civil War seems like ancient history, it arguably shaped the current landscape of our nation more than any single event in our history and led to more war deaths (750,000) than all other U.S. conflicts put together. Considering the divisions we are experiencing in our country today, perhaps the best way to honor those that died in that war (and in service to our country in other conflicts) would be to find a way to put aside those differences to work for a common good consistent with the principles of our strong and free nation.
We follow with a reprint of a more contemporary poem by Kelly Strong which really says it all in its title – “Freedom is Not Free.”
Lastly, we include a link to a song by Timothy Irvin – “After the War” – which captures the spirit of brotherhood and sacrifice better than anything I have ever heard. This song remembers a recent time when the country was divided to an even greater extent than today. Sadly, the men that were sent to the front lines in that conflict never did get the honor and respect they deserved. I would challenge anyone to keep a dry eye after listening to this anthem which recalls the sacrifices made by so many during the Vietnam War.
Next week, we return to discussing industry issues and developments. In the meantime, we hope all of you had not only a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend but also one where you were able to remember and pay respects to the Fallen Heroes to whom we owe our freedoms and prosperity.
