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Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remembering the cost of freedom
Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place flags at the headstones of U.S. military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day on May 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by) On September 11, 2001, I was 29 years old, deployed to Kuwait as an Army Aviator in the Indiana National Guard. I was flying a mission in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over northern Kuwait near the Iraq border when I learned that terrorists had attacked our homeland. I remember the flood of emotions that hit me — shock, sorrow, anger, and an overwhelming sense of resolve. In that moment, the mission became personal. The idea of service, which had always been central to my life, was no longer just about duty — it became about defending the people I loved, the nation I swore to protect, and the ideals that define us as Americans. As a soldier and an American, I am humbled by the memory of those we honor on Memorial Day. From the beaches of Normandy to the jungles of Vietnam, from the fields of Gettysburg to the deserts of Iraq, generations of selfless men and women have laid down their lives so that we may enjoy the blessings of freedom, security, and peace. Every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, every name etched on a memorial wall, tells the unique sacrifice of a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine who gave everything in the service of something greater than themselves, and we will never forget them. The origins of Memorial Day trace back to the Civil War, a conflict so brutal it claimed more American lives than any war in our history. After the devastation brought about by that war, America committed to the idea of remembering and honoring our fallen. That brought about many of today's memorials, including the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis. Over the nearly 250 years of our nation, what remains constant is the character of those who wear the uniform: courage, sacrifice, and a love of country that transcends self-interest. Whenever I am in Washington D.C., I find time to stop by the Lincoln Memorial and take a moment to reflect by reading the Gettysburg Address etched in the memorial wall. I always walk away humbled and with a renewed sense of purpose because of the words President Lincoln spoke that day. 'The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.' As we approach this long weekend and the unofficial start of summer, let us remember the true meaning of Memorial Day — to honor the cost of freedom and remember those who paid it for us. This weekend is for the people who never made it home, whose lives were cut short in the pursuit of liberty. To my fellow service members, past and present, I say thank you. To the Gold Star families, know that your loved ones will never be forgotten — their sacrifice lives on in the heart of this nation. And to all Americans: may we honor the fallen not just today, but every day, through our commitment to the values they fought and died to protect. Honoring their names means more than offering gratitude. It means carrying forward the ideals they believed in — freedom, justice, and unity — and understanding that the fight to preserve them is never over. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A holiday remembrance of home
Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place flags at the headstones of U.S. military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day on May 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by) Science informs us that our sense of smell can evoke vivid memories. The phenomenon is sometimes known as the 'Proust Effect,' for a scene from Marcel Proust's novel 'Remembrance of Things Past,' when a character's childhood memories come flooding back, triggered by the scent of a sweet cake called a madeleine. For me it's lilacs. Every Memorial Day of my childhood my mother would cut lilacs from the big bush near the back porch of our home in Grand Island. She would bunch them into bouquets and then send my sister and me in search of vases and mason jars to fill with water. On the trip to the cemetery in the back seat, my sister and I would hold tight to the lilacs and whatever else mom culled from our yard or that of a generous neighbor. Mom would manage my father's driving to keep the sloshing to a minimum. The car was thick with the unmistakable fragrance of lilacs, an aroma now permanently linked in my memory to Memorial Day. And, sadly, more. The lilac bush was large enough that anyone passing by on the sidewalk enjoyed the scent. Rich Gillham knew the smell. He was two grades ahead of me in school and six blocks to the north of me on Kimball Street, but a childhood friend nonetheless, the way neighborhood friends know each other. He would pedal by on his bicycle and then, as a teen he would zoom past on his motorcycle — sometimes stopping because he had me on the back hitching a ride home from football practice. There was an uncluttered ease to Rich, a confidence that this 15-year-old, saddled with a high school sophomore's lack of self-assurance and no driver's license, admired. My parents didn't want me riding on a motorcycle, but they knew Rich and his parents, Gerald and Ursula, the way neighborhood parents know each other. Rich never came by as an adult. He was killed in a place called Dinh Tuong Province, thousands of miles from Kimball Street and the smell of lilacs. He was 20. I'm not sure I'll remember Rich more this Memorial Day than I do any other day. With war now a modern constant and young men and women from their own streets and neighborhoods in places we call harm's way, he is more on my mind. I paid my respects to Rich and others when the traveling wall made it to our hometown, where I was overcome with many emotions, not the least of which was the rushing back of a shared and gentle childhood. War being what it is, we're never far from paying respects and decorating graves and realizing the true and somber meaning of Memorial Day. Vietnam was my generation's war. Rich was my neighbor and friend who died there, whose life and death touched many, especially those of us from Kimball Street. We played as kids. Our families shared dinners. Our parents laughed over beers. In high school, Rich played football his senior year, never getting in a game, but sticking it out nonetheless. And he was always willing to throw me on the back of his little two-wheeler and take me home. My best last memory of Rich was of him astride his new, powerful Triumph motorcycle, so loud a conversation next to it was impossible. A group of us were parked at Nifty's Drive-In on South Locust Street when we heard him coming on the Triumph, a growling, snarling monster in faded copper. We were taken with the clamor and power … and Rich, nonchalant and indifferent to the stares from the curious, the impressed and the disgusted. He turned it off for a few minutes for a little back and forth chatter, then stomped the Triumph a few times to bring it back to life. He sped off in a cloud of youth and noise. We made a point to see how far he would get before we could no longer hear him. It was long after he drove out of sight, much to our delight and admiration. Delight and admiration. That's how I remember my neighbor, the first casualty of war from my childhood. Come to think of it, delight and admiration could fit millions of memories on Memorial Day. And maybe throw in the scent of lilacs, too. (Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published in the Grand Island Independent on May 29, 2011, and is being republished with permission. It has been updated for clarity and to reflect the passage of time.)
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Veterans Issued Weather Warnings for Memorial Day Events
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Veterans attending Memorial Day events are potentially facing challenging weather conditions, as the U.S. is forecast for triple-digit heats in parts, while severe thunderstorms are expected in others. Why It Matters Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26, with commemorative ceremonies hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs scheduled to take place across the country beginning on Friday. Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place flags at the headstones of U.S. military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day on May 22, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place flags at the headstones of U.S. military personnel buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day on May 22, 2025 in Arlington, of the southwestern U.S. are forecast to see highs reaching the triple digits this weekend, whilst other areas could see severe thunderstorms and even flooding. What To Know Numerous lower desert areas are forecast to see high temperatures ranging from the upper 90s to low 100s Fahrenheit on Memorial Day, AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek. Major cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs will be among those experiencing this intense heat, he said. Memorial Day events are expected to draw around 100,000 attendees nationwide, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and states like Arizona and California, which are expecting some of the highest temperatures over the weekend, have multiple events planned during the day. When asked what guidance older veterans should keep in mind when attending Memorial Day events during the hottest parts of the day, Buckingham responded: "Drinking plenty of hydrating fluids, refraining from strenuous exercise, and being able to recognize any of the initial signs of heat exhaustion and responding accordingly are recommended to keep individuals safe from the heat." Elsewhere in the U.S., the main area at risk for severe weather on Memorial Day is projected to stretch from the southern Plains to the Southeast, where repeated rounds of rain and intense thunderstorms could bring damaging wind gusts, hail, and the potential for tornadoes, according to forecasters. Throughout the holiday weekend and into Memorial Day, ongoing thunderstorms may also elevate the risk of serious flooding around the Ozarks region in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, Buckingham told Newsweek. "This could prove to be especially dangerous given the hilly terrain and the influx of campers and people planning on spending time outdoors in the area," he said. What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek: "In terms of who will be the hottest, the deserts of southern Arizona and the deserts of interior Southern California will be the focus of the most extreme heat." The National Weather Service said on X, Friday: "Daily – at least low – chances of severe weather will impact various part of the central and southern plains through the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. "Remember too that strong winds, flash flooding, and hail aren't the only threats from thunderstorms. Lightning strikes can result in death or serious injury. If you hear thunder or see lightning, take shelter in an enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows up." What Happens Next The VA says it will host Memorial Day ceremonies this weekend at more than 130 VA national cemeteries across the U.S. The NWS issues regular forecast updates on its website.
