Memorial Day Reminder

One of the first things I saw in the Lincoln-Times News by its current Managing Editor was a cartoon of President Bush with his mouth open like a Pez dispenser, with a stream of flag draped coffins coming out of it.  Went over 'round here like a nasty chili and beer fart in Church.  He was letting all of us know just how anti-military he is.  We decided for him-- if he wanted to keep his vehicle, his job and his ass all in one piece, he'd need to change his ways. 

Had I wrote this piece and signed it "Commandant, Marine Corps League" it would never seen the light of day. But since he's "not from around here" he just knew he was looking for reader submissions and figures I'm just another citizen.  So it did get printed.

From the Lincoln Times/News-Everything you need to know about Lincoln County, NC--three time'-a-week. Yes friends, this is a place where "onced" and "twiced" and "reckon" are words you will hear teachers say in the classroom--not because they're not educated but because they grew up talking like that.

Editor:
This letter is just a reminder to all of your readers just what the holiday we celebrate next Monday is all about.

Memorial Day is the day we as a Nation set aside to remember all the men and women who have lost their lives defending the United States, and we also remember all of our deceased Veterans on this day.  The holiday originated after the Civil War, when a day was set aside in the spring of the year to decorate the graves of the hundreds of thousands of men who perished in the battles of that war. 

Unfortunately, over the last 30 odd years, with some help from the government making this day  a “Monday Holiday”, Memorial Day has evolved into something other than what it was intended to be. And Americans have forgotten the reason we have the holiday.   Now it’s a good opportunity to take a vacation to the Beach or the Mountains, or to get a good deal on a set of tires, an appliance or the like. 

Lincoln County has some Memorial Day ceremonial observances.  But as I noticed last year, either they are poorly publicized, or even worse, our citizens don’t seem to care about the real meaning of this holiday, as nobody shows up at them. 

The VFW spends a good deal of time and effort to create a Luminary Ceremony to honor our fallen Veterans.  Last year, other than the VFW members themselves, 12 people showed up for this event. 
The American Legion, DAV, Marine Corps League, and the VFW participate in a ceremony held on Memorial Day evening at the War Memorial on the east side of the Courthouse.  Last year, if this event drew 50 people other than the participants, I would be very surprised.

I’ve seen pictures of Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day ceremonies in Lincolnton from 50 years ago or more, when the courthouse square was packed with people, and over 5 dozen of the County’s leading citizens were seated on the Courthouse steps.  And I’m sure that the VFW has had larger attendances at their Luminary Ceremony. 

Are we so concerned with living our lives in America that we have no time to remember the people who fought and in many cases died so we can live the way we do?  Have we forgotten that our country has been in a state of war since 2001?  The relatives and friends of Lincoln County’s Active Duty service members sure haven’t forgotten, and neither have its Veterans.

What about the rest of Lincoln County?  Has it become politically incorrect to honor our fallen warriors, and our friends and neighbors who served and returned to make our county what it is today?  I’d hate to think so, but the turnout at these remembrance ceremonies tell me differently.

At this date most folks who are going out of town have made their plans.  Perhaps, due to the higher price of fuel more folks will be staying closer to home this year. 

If you are, the VFW Luminary ceremony will be held at the VFW Home on Country Club Rd. on Sunday evening, the 25th at 7:30.  The Memorial Day Remembrance ceremony will be held on the east side of the Courthouse in Lincolnton on Monday evening the 26th at 6PM.

Fellow citizens—Let’s use the upcoming weekend to remember all those “gentle heroes” that gave their lives for our country and our way of life, and use this year’s observance to remind our children and teach our grandchildren the real meaning of Memorial Day. Take some time out of your weekend celebrations to attend these ceremonies. 

Hank Kaczmarek
Lincolnton