05/29/2023
Memorial Day and our American Heroes
173d Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation
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Heroes possess characteristics of bravery, conviction, courage, determination, honesty, and integrity. They inspire others, are fearless, altruistic, and have great strength and perseverance. Heroes make personal sacrifices and risks for the greater good. They are selfless and have no expectation of personal gain for their sacrifices. Heroes act in favor of the greater good. They fulfill a higher purpose, and often attain a noble end. Heroes are admired and idealized for outstanding qualities and achievements.
We take this day; Memorial Day to stand together as a nation and honor our true and ultimate American Heroes; our US soldiers who died in battle.
Memorial Day has evolved in meaning over the years and has been extended to a holiday to spend time with families and friends and many honor all who have died. Only in America do we have the freedom to make this day and weekend what we want it to be.
It is important for every American whether born or naturalized in the US to take some time today though to think about and consider the reason we have this day.
Memorial Day, originally called “Decoration Day,” was a day that American Citizens placed flowers upon the graves of those killed during American Civil War.
After WWII Memorial Day became a day recognized by the United States to observe all US soldiers killed in war.
In 1971 Memorial Day became a US National holiday through a congressional act.
Serving God, and country are the highest honors one can have. Soldiers enlist or are drafted between the ages of 17 and 31. They raise one hand and place the other on the bible and repeat an oath (a great promise) in front in front of the American Flag in front of the United States and country. Their promise was to support and defend the United States Constitution and to protect and defend the country from enemies foreign and domestic. This involves a 24-hour, 7 day per week commitment to serve and to be owed by the country. They served with great discipline and great honor.
Taking on the role of a US soldier presents a cost like no other. US soldiers serve God and Country and understand that this responsibility may mean death. A solider willingly says I will die for my country if my country needs me to.
Today we honor those ultimate American Heroes and Heroines for sacrificing their lives for us.
These heroes watch over us in their death and are in the very spirit of our country.
These soldiers are in every decision we make, every convenience we use, and, in every freedom, we have, they are the reason most days we feel safe and can sleep at night.
Because of them we get to have choices like whether to send our children to school or teach them at home, what type of job or career we want to have. To attend college or not. We have electricity, clean water, waste disposal, nutritious food, and we can choose to have children or not, to get married or not. Our men, women and our racial, ethnic, sexual and gender diversities are honored. Over history these are only some of the great effects of our military and what our military stands for.
No matter the reason we go to war our American soldiers who died had their lives taken too soon, often young adults in the prime of their lives or middle aged often in leadership positions.
Death during war knows no age, no gender, no race or ethnicity, no sexual preference, no power, no rank, or paygrade. Anyone can be killed in war or because of war. Those soldiers that died are daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and the like. Their death affects families, friends, and their fellow soldiers. Their deaths affect businesses, employees, employers, and our neighbors, and in turn the health of our country.
The military has played major role in building the prosperity of our country.
Every American therefore owes a part of their life and loyalty to the soldiers who served, and still serve and to those that died while serving.
America would not have the safety, freedom, and resources without them.
Today as we honor those who died for us, we also need to honor and think of their families, friends and their fellow comrades who served with them. The loss includes unimaginable suffering. Many have PTSD, suffer from traumatic grief, sadness, guilt, shame, and moral injury. The soldiers who served with them are reminded physically and mentally daily. There are not many days that go by that these soldiers are not remembered.
As we think of those that we know died in war, we also want to think of those that were killed in action and not found and those missing in action. Without their body there is no closure. There is constant wondering, and worrying about where they are.
Today is a day to grieve, mourn, honor, and remember but after that it is a day that these soldiers would want us to enjoy because. They wanted their lives and their deaths to matter. They do not want us to dwell on the loss of them and instead want us to live full lives and take advantage of every freedom we have because of their fight. Remember the reason we have this day, and why you get to live the life you do. Take care of the families, friends, and their fellow comrades.
We have safety, freedoms, rights, privileges, resources, prosperity, power, conveniences, and everything we need because of those who served in the US military.
The American Soldier who Died in Battle are the true and ultimate Heroes. They died to soon and we have all we have because of them.
Thank you to those who died in war, who still watch over us and are the spirit of our nation. We appreciate you and all you have blessed us with. We vow to never forget the meaning of your life and the meaning of your death.
The Importance of Memorial Day to the US Army 173d Airborne Memorial Foundation.
Airborne units are dropped into war zones in places where most dare not to go. The 173d Airborne Brigade are “Sky Soldiers.”
The Foundation has designed and constructed one of the most beautiful memorials in the country. The foundation honors and memorializes their 1742 soldiers who died in the Vietnam War and their 84 soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The foundation also honors honor their Australian allies that fought next to them.
The memorial stands at Fort Benning, now Fort Moore in Columbus Georgia directly behind the National Infantry Museum.
The foundation board is made up of 173d Airborne soldiers who lost their fellow soldiers in battle. They wanted to ensure family, friends, and fellow soldiers had a place to honor and grieve their heroic soldiers.
Despite the 173d’s overwhelming responsibilities, duties, and presence throughout the world they did not have a home base on US soil. This memorial also serves as a meeting place for the 173d Airborne Brigade soldiers to meet.
The 173d Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation honors those who died while serving in the US Military and specifically our brothers we served with and lost.
Often people say Happy Memorial Day which does not seem like the most appropriate wording. The 173d Airborne Brigade Memorial Foundation says thank you for your great service and your great sacrifice.
We will not forget you!
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