Memorial Day musings...

Red geraniums sitting atop red, white, and blue cloth napkins, star-spangled bunting wrapped around the railings, and a brass band sitting on folding chairs as current and former members of the American armed forces stand for the songs of their respective military branches. It's the start of Memorial Day services in small town Pennsylvania, where, tomorrow morning, come rain or shine, a crowd will gather in the park at the center of town for an address by local members of the armed forces, the presentation of a wreath by the Ladies Auxiliary at the town's war memorial, and a parade making its way down Main Street.


...Stereotypical, perhaps (as are many things in connection with this town), but never trite. My family will be among those standing in the park at 8am tomorrow morning, as every year my step-grandfather, donned in his Marine Corps beret, joins veterans in leading the annual service. A similar appreciation, made more powerful (and poignant) by recollection of family and friends who served or are serving and visits to Arlington, found me at tonight's community service in a church just across the street from the memorial that will be further adorned with the morning's gathering.

After performances from the church's brass band and the local choral club, singing of the national anthem and presentation of the flag, etc, the pastor began his sermon for the evening. ...Now, honestly, I tend to avoid breaking into debate either on this blog or while I'm in this small, conservative town (catch me elsewhere, though, and I'm up for a sound, reasoned discussion and/or debate. heh)... particularly when the occasion calls for a focusing of an attention and thoughts on the significant matter at hand: remembering and honoring those who serve(d). Not surprisingly, then, I was a bit frustrated by my own unavoidable distraction when the sermon declared that the US was so blessed (see Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA") because of a foundation in Christianity.


Without getting into personal religious beliefs or the nitty gritty of a universal and timeless debate and discussion such as that, I couldn't help but balk at his implication. Rather than suggest that Christianity is what makes America "great," I'd think many would argue that religious freedom is one of those greatness-causing factors. An anecdote of his ancestors serving in the Civil War and attributing their bravery largely to their church membership, for me, only seemed to highlight the slight hypocrisy of it. Their Christian beliefs is what gave them the courage to go into battle? Huh... have to say, a.not limited to Christianity, and b.religiously driven warfare is something we often decry rather than laud, is it not? And what if they'd been born to a Muslim family in Libya, or Kurds in Iran, or Hindus in India, or Buddhists in China, or Jews in Argentina, or animists in the depths of Africa? Many of us know all too well that we do not choose the family, place, or situation into which we are born - and along with that generally comes culture and tradition, perspective, religion. Sure, they can and do often alter over time... but the origins we can't change. And really, either way, let's stick with Aretha on this one and r-e-s-p-e-c-t.


Thankfully, as previously noted, I'd like to think that the vast majority would agree that freedom from religious persecution - regardless of one's beliefs or lack thereof - is the key, and one of those freedoms we today thank the US armed forces for fighting to protect. ...Ah, also, let's not forget the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Let freedom ring, eh?