On Memorial Day, pause and reflect
In 2004, while serving with the the U.S. Army in the Anbar Province of Iraq, I saw the following graffiti spray-painted on the interior wall of a building being occupied by the Marines in Ramadi:
"America is not at war. The Marine Corps is at war. America is at the mall."
In the midst of the mayhem and fighting that was the insurgency of Anbar Province in 2004, it was common among U.S. military personnel to feel that America was out of touch, ill-informed and not connected to the terrible events going on in places like Fallujah, Ramadi and Al Qaim.
Combat is an isolating experience. Combat fought by an all-volunteer military is even more isolating. With fewer than 1 percent of our citizens wearing a uniform today, it is easy to understand why combatants can feel isolated.
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As Memorial Day approaches I simply pray that our citizens will pause in the midst of their leisure activities and reflect soberly upon the fact that our nation is at war. Our young men and women, the pride of our nation, are far from home, serving proudly, in austere settings at great risk.
I've had the privilege of serving among these amazing young men and women. They are the next "greatest generation." They do not ask for your pity; they simply want to know that you will honor their sacrifice and that, should they die, you will not forget them.
In every village, town and city in the nation, small groups of men and women will gather Monday to honor the sacrifice made by the fallen of all our wars and to remember those who died. These simple ceremonies ensure the dignity of those whose lives ended violently, prematurely and in the service of our nation.
I will stand alongside my fellow citizens at one of these ceremonies. I'll do what I've done so many other Memorial Days: I'll pray for peace. I'll remember by name those I've buried, and I'll thank God for the privilege of having served with heroes.
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Lt. Col. John Morris is state chaplain in the Minnesota National Guard.