Obama Delivers an Empathetic Message of Remembrance

Today, our CIC Obama delivered one of the finest speeches I've heard, probably since his inaugural speech. It was reflective, if not spiritual in parts, a speech that the troops at the cemetery, abroad, and the families of them will remember for some time.

The transcript I got from All that Matters blog. Somehow, they got it from the WH Press Office, albeit only an excerpt was available at the WH blog. Nonetheless, here it is in its entirety, with some commentary from yours truly. I hope BW readers will find it worthy of a read.

Introduction

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Admiral Mullen, for that generous introduction and for your sterling service to our country. To members of our armed forces, to our veterans, to honored guests, and families of the fallen — I am deeply honored to be with you on Memorial Day.

Thank you to the superintendent, John Metzler, Jr., who cares for these grounds just as his father did before him; to the Third Infantry Regiment who, regardless of weather or hour, guard the sanctity of this hallowed ground with the reverence it deserves — we are grateful to you; to service members from every branch of the military who, each Memorial Day, place an American flag before every single stone in this cemetery — we thank you as well. (Applause.) We are indebted — we are indebted to all who tend to this sacred place.

Here lie Presidents and privates; Supreme Court justices and slaves; generals familiar to history, and unknown soldiers known only to God.

Note: the last comment is borrowed from the inscription of the tombs of the unknown, "Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.", established at Arlington National Cemetery to inter the remains of the first Unknown Soldier, a World War I fighter, on November 11, 1921. More were added over time.

A few moments ago, I laid a wreath at their tomb to pay tribute to all who have given their lives for this country. As a nation, we have gathered here to repeat this ritual in moments of peace, when we pay our respects to the fallen and give thanks for their sacrifice. And we’ve gathered here in moments of war, when the somber notes of Taps echo through the trees, and fresh grief lingers in the air.

Today is one of those moments, where we pay tribute to those who forged our history, but hold closely the memory of those so recently lost. And even as we gather here this morning, all across America, people are pausing to remember, to mourn, and to pray.

Old soldiers are pulling themselves a little straighter to salute brothers lost a long time ago. Children are running their fingers over colorful ribbons that they know signify something of great consequence, even if they don’t know exactly why. Mothers are re-reading final letters home and clutching photos of smiling sons or daughters, as youthful and vibrant as they always will be.

They, and we, are the legacies of an unbroken chain of proud men and women who served their country with honor; who waged war so that we might know peace; who braved hardship so that we might know opportunity; who paid the ultimate price so we might know freedom.

Contrast that to the tone of what our last POTUS said, about at the some moment of his speech:

A few moments ago, I placed a wreath upon the tomb of three brave Americans who gave their lives in service to our nation. The names ofthese honored are known only to the Creator who delivered them home from the anguish of war -- but their valor is known to us all. It's the same valor that endured the stinging cold of Valley Forge. It is the same valor that planted the proud colors of a great nation on a mountaintop on Iwo Jima. It is the same valor that charged fearlessly through the assault of enemy fire from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. It is the valor that has defined the armed forces of the United States of America throughout our history.

Today, we gather to honor those who gave everything to preserve our way of life. The men and women we honor here served for liberty. They sacrificed for liberty. And in countless acts of courage, they died for liberty. From faraway lands, they were returned to cemeteries like this one, where broken hearts received their broken bodies -- they found peace beneath the white headstones in the land they fought to defend.

It is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom that the number of headstones in a place such as this grows with every new Memorial Day. In a world where freedom is constantly under attack and in a world where our security is challenged, the joys of liberty are often purchased by the sacrifices of those who serve a cause greater than themselves. Today we mourn and remember all who have given their lives in the line of duty. Today we lift up our hearts especially those who've fallen in the past year.

The tone is not reflective, it is more "rah, rah" and the manly hubis of war. Why we need to be afraid, and how freedom is always under attack. How the joys of liberty are bought with war. Yuck.

President Obama then starts examining the historical meaning of this day:

Those who rest in these fields fought in every American war. They overthrew an empire and gave birth to revolution. They strained to hold a young union together. They rolled back the creeping tide of tyranny, and stood post through a long twilight struggle. And they took on the terror and extremism that threatens our world’s stability.

Their stories are the American story. More than seven generations of them are chronicled here at Arlington. They’re etched into stone, recounted by family and friends, and silently observed by the mighty oaks that have stood over burial after burial.

To walk these grounds then is to walk through that history. Not far from here, appropriately just across a bridge connecting Lincoln to Lee, Union and Confederate soldiers share the same land in perpetuity.

And hence the significance of the cemetery, and how it is laid out according to the generations of the fallen:

Just down the sweeping hill behind me rest those we lost in World War II, fresh-faced GIs who rose to the moment by unleashing a fury that saved the world. Next week, I’ll visit Normandy, the place where our fate hung on an operation unlike any ever attempted, where it will be my tremendous honor to address some of the brave men who stormed those beaches 65 years ago.

And tucked in a quiet corner to our north are thousands of those we lost in Vietnam. We know for many the casualties of that war endure — right now, there are veterans suffering and families tracing their fingers over black granite not two miles from here. They are why we pledge anew to remember their service and revere their sacrifice, and honor them as they deserve.

This cemetery is in and of itself a testament to the price our nation has paid for freedom. A quarter of a million marble headstones dot these rolling hills in perfect military order, worthy of the dignity of those who rest here. It can seem overwhelming. But for the families of the fallen, just one stone stands out — one stone that requires no map to find.

Today, some of those stones are found at the bottom of this hill in Section 60, where the fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan rest. The wounds of war are fresh in Section 60. A steady stream of visitors leaves reminders of life: photos, teddy bears, favorite magazines. Friends place small stones as a sign they stopped by. Combat units leave bottles of beer or stamp cigarettes into the ground as a salute to those they rode in battle with. Perfect strangers visit in their free time, compelled to tend to these heroes, to leave flowers, to read poetry — to make sure they don’t get lonely.

Obama brings up memories of the Vietnam Wall, and ties it with today's new generation of those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, in that we have rituals that include symbols, and what they mean to keep their memories alive. (this is also when I felt teardrops trickle down my face)

Then the President offers these questions, as though he is talking to the families and friends philosophically:

If the fallen could speak to us, what would they say? Would they console us? Perhaps they might say that while they could not know they’d be called upon to storm a beach through a hail of gunfire, they were willing to give up everything for the defense of our freedom; that while they could not know they’d be called upon to jump into the mountains of Afghanistan and seek an elusive enemy, they were willing to sacrifice all for their country; that while they couldn’t possibly know they would be called to leave this world for another, they were willing to take that chance to save the lives of their brothers and sisters in arms.

What is thing, this sense of duty? What tugs at a person until he or she says “Send me”? Why, in an age when so many have acted only in pursuit of the narrowest self-interest, have the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of this generation volunteered all that they have on behalf of others? Why have they been willing to bear the heaviest burden?

Obama's questions are heartfelt, and even though he doesn't have a specific answer, he believes we could only surmise:

Whatever it is, they felt some tug; they answered a call; they said “I’ll go.” That is why they are the best of America, and that is what separates them from those of us who have not served in uniform — their extraordinary willingness to risk their lives for people they never met.

My grandfather served in Patton’s Army in World War II. But I cannot know what it is like to walk into battle. I’m the father of two young girls — but I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a child. These are things I cannot know. But I do know this: I am humbled to be the Commander-in-Chief of the finest fighting force in the history of the world.

And Obama reiterated his message from Thursday to Dick Cheney and his ilk who keep spouting off nonsense that our President is losing the ball on security, but added, there has to be strong intelligence to support reason to put our Americans in harm's way:

I know that there is nothing I will not do to keep our country safe, even as I face no harder decision than sending our men and women to war — and no moment more difficult than writing a letter to the families of the fallen. And that’s why as long as I am President, I will only send our troops into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and I will always provide them with the equipment and support they need to get the job done. (Applause.)

Amen, Mr. President. We know all too well the ill-planned war to invade Iraq, and Rumsfeld didn't prepare for a long ground invasion either.

I know that military families sacrifice more than we can understand, and feel an absence greater than we can comprehend. And that’s why Michelle and I are committed to easing their burden.

And I know what a grateful nation owes to those who serve under its proud flag. And that’s why I promise all our servicemen and women that when the guns fall silent, and you do return home, it will be to an America that is forever here for you, just as you’ve been there for us. (Applause.)

Indeed, Obama included more money in his budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs for more quality care and services to the vets. Something that was somehow unimportant under the last Administration.

Obama brings us back to the "Memorial " part of the service:

With each death, we are heartbroken. With each death, we grow more determined. This bustling graveyard can be a restless place for the living, where solace sometimes comes only from meeting others who know similar grief. But it reminds us all the meaning of valor; it reminds us all of our own obligations to one another; it recounts that most precious aspect of our history, and tells us that we will only rise or fall together.

So on this day of silent remembrance and solemn prayer I ask all Americans, wherever you are, whoever you’re with, whatever you’re doing, to pause in national unity at 3:00 this afternoon. I ask you to ring a bell, or offer a prayer, say a silent “thank you.” And commit to give something back to this nation — something lasting — in their memory; to affirm in our own lives and advance around the world those enduring ideals of justice, equality, and opportunity for which they and so many generations of Americans have given that last full measure of devotion.

And to conclude:

God bless you, God bless the fallen, and God bless the United States of America.

Thank you, Mr. President, in truly delivering a spirit of memory, healing, and empathy.

Note: this diary post will continue to be tweaked, so there will be some changes here and there.

John Edwards: Honor Our Heroes

Here's a statement his campaign released this morning:

“Today, Elizabeth and I offer up our prayers in memory of all those who have fallen for America, and our hearts go out to their families. We honor all the brave men and women in uniform who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Because of their courage, our country is safer. Because of their dedication to the causes of liberty and justice, our country remains the land of the free. And because of their sacrifice, we are a stronger nation and a stronger people. We honor these heroes especially on this day, but every day we should remember the sacrifice they made to protect our freedom.”

Yesterday, I read a comment at the Daily Kos, where there was a special Edwards Memorial Day Weekend edition, by LadyLib, who did much to honor our soldiers, both the fallen, and to support our current ones, that is worth sharing:

I put my End the War bumper sticker on today...

first time I have ever put a bumper sticker on one of my cars. I also put my Edwards sticker on too. I wore my End the War tee shirt today while I went to decorate family graves and put flags on all the graves of family members that were vets....I can't believe how many there were. I spent all day going from one cemetary to another. I also made up a care package for a soldier.

One might recall 10 things one could do this weekend as suggested by the Support the Troops, End The War website. She did at least 4 of them.




Last night, I prayed for the troops as I read that our military are bleeding them and half of the American people do not know what is happening. Here's an excerpt from the No Quarter's site that Taylor Marsh pointed her readers to and beware, some of it will infuriate you when you read it.

My military buddies are terrific, patriotic warriors. They do their jobs with great integrity, great personnel sacrifice, and minimal bitching (at least in public). But they know we are kidding ourselves if we think we can sustain current operations in Iraq without either a draft or significant reinforcements from the so-called "coalition of the willing". We must do one or the other because our current recruitment and retention policies are not sufficient to sustain the operations tempo for the Army and Marines in Iraq.

We cannot rely on the Iraqi soldiers or police. In January of 2006 the Pentagon claimed that there were 137,000 trained Iraqis soldiers. This month the Pentagon claims there are 143,000 trained Iraqis. The failure to substantially increase the size of the Iraqi Army is only part of the problem. The Iraqi Army also is heavily infiltrated by Shia militias. They are not a national force dedicated to defending Iraqis regardless of race, religion, tribe or creed. They are a sectarian vendetta force and will not bring the peace.

Meanwhile, American men and women are paying a price in blood that is not being reciprocated by the Iraqi political leaders. Because we lack the manpower on the ground in Iraq to gain tactical control of the situation, our continued presence perversely becomes a recruiting tool for sectarian militias and, to a lesser extent, foreign terrorists. This policy is undermining U.S. interests in the Middle East and around the world.

As you plant a flag to honor fallen soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen tomorrow, pray also that the Congress will find the courage to put a stop to this madness.

Cruel. But I still honor them for putting on that uniform. And our government needs to pull them out. They are not dying for my freedom; they are unwanted in Iraq, and dying because of a strife that has been long time coming. The Iraqis alledgedly cannot rely on us any longer if their own soldiers will not help them. We have always been a nation of helping others as long as they wish to help themselves.

Much to be done when they return, and that will cost billions in itself. One in three has a serious injury that will take much therapy, or some instances, the soldier may not be able to work again, and we will have to figure out how to help take care of their families.

Alas though, Memorial Day is to honor the fallen. I salute my late mother-in-law's brother, Jimmy Smith, who died in WWII. And to his sister, who was very patriotic too.


As I am not a great wordsmith, I chose to search for something within my faith that could express better than I could about Memorial Day. Here is a sermon given exactly a year ago by Rev Steve Eddington of the UU Nashua Church entitled "A Time to Remember".

Having conducted the number of memorial services and funerals as I now have, I feel fortunate to have gained what I feel is a pretty good understanding of some of more common ways the measure of a life is taken, and of the marks of a full life. So for the remainder of my sermon for today I want to share some of what those measures are; and then I want to focus on the lives of two very fine members of this congregation who passed away over this past year and say a bit about what the were the marks of their lives.

I've spoken before on the topic of what kinds of things are most remembered in a person who has died, so I'll just briefly review it here. One thing I find striking, in preparing a Memorial Service with family and friends of the deceased, is how little attention is usually given to how a person earned their living or how much wealth they had - even though we devote a very substantial chunk of our lives to these endeavors. Their job or profession will be mentioned, and even affirmed. But it is the ways in which the person extended him or herself to others, whether on the job or in other settings, that gets the emphasis. It is how the person gave of him/herself to their family, friends, community, and religious community that is remembered far more than whatever they managed to acquire. Nobody's material worth has ever been belittled or demeaned, that I can remember, it just doesn't get top billing.

Closely related to this, it is the things you were most passionate about, and devoted to, that are best remembered. I recall doing a service for someone who had been instrumental in starting and promoting softball and tennis programs for children and young people here in Nashua, and the tournaments he'd gotten the city to host, and the teams he'd taken to out-of-town tournaments. This man's job was barely mentioned, but his passion for these sports was reounted at length. So, whatever you feel most passionate about, whether or not it has anything to do with your job, is going to show through; and it is one very significant way in which the measure of your life will be taken.

You will also be measured for the ways in which you made people laugh. I don't mean by that how good your jokes were; but for the joy you brought to people's lives, for how you lightened and lifted someone's spirits when they most needed it. You will also be measured for how "at home" you were with yourself - for how grounded you were, for how clear you were in your convictions, even as you allowed space for others of differing convictions than yours. How well you carried yourself with an inner confidence - not an inflated ego, but an inner confidence - is yet another often cited measure of a life.

You'll also be measured for how religious you were. This may sound a little strange, especially since I'm the minister in town who often gets called upon when a family wants a minister to officiate a service for a member who has passed away, and who - as the family often puts it - was "not very religious." But, they'll go on to say, we still want a minister to do his/her service. That's when the funeral director thinks, "Well, better call up the Unitarian Universalist guy."

So I get that call, and meet with the family. More often than not I'll hear about how the deceased person loved and savored life, savored living, respected the earth and its creatures, or cultivated a sense of awe and mystery and wonder at the Larger Life that surrounds us all; and I'll end up thinking (although I usually keep the thought to myself), "This person sounds pretty religious to me." Well, whether you care to call it religious or not, how well you embraced, loved, savored, and gave of yourself to life will be a very clear marker in taking the measure of your days.

It reminds me about what Elizabeth Edwards says often about loved ones who have passed away: that it's more than a name, it's about their stories and who they were as people.

Peace be with them and with you.

Memorial Day: A Call to Patriots

I got the following e-mail from John Edwards yesterday.

Memorial Day Weekend is a time to honor all the brave men and women throughout our history who have served in our armed forces, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard our freedom. I believe it is our duty to use that freedom to stand up for those now serving in the most meaningful way that we can--by thanking them, supporting them, and bringing them home to a hero's welcome.

It's time to support the troops. For far too long, George Bush has abused the rhetoric of patriotism to silence his critics and paper over the devastating cost of his war to the country we love. Our troops have served bravely and sacrificed without hesitation. Yet they are now paying the price for Bush's stubborn pursuit of his failed strategy in Iraq. Our troops deserve far better, and we all have a responsibility to stand up for them.

So this Memorial Day Weekend, I'm asking every one of us to take a stand for the troops and against the war. Let's reclaim patriotism for all of us who love our country, support our troops and fiercely believe in our hearts that this war must end now.

There are many ways we can take action this Memorial Day. We've prepared 10 ideas to get you started, like sending care packages for the troops or holding public gathering to speak out for the troops and against the war. What matters most is that you take action in a way that honors our troops and feels right to you.

To sign up to take action or to see what actions others have planned near you, go to:

www.SupportTheTroopsEndTheWar.com

Thanks to your support, we were able to rush a full page ad to the Washington Post featuring most of the more than 115,000 names we've collected calling on Congress to end the war. But we have to do more. To stand up for our men and women in uniform and force this President to do the right thing, we must take extraordinary action.

For we are citizens. And as citizens, we must honor and support our troops for their service and sacrifice.

We are Americans. And as Americans, we give thanks for the blessing of their sacrifice and support, which keeps us safe and keeps us strong.

And we are patriots. And as patriots we must use our power and the responsibility that comes with it to push our government to support our troops in the most important way it can--by ending this war and bringing them home.

So this Memorial Day Weekend, let us gather as patriots. Wherever you are--with your family, with your friends, at a BBQ, at a parade--wherever you can be seen and heard, first take a moment of silence to honor the fallen, and then let us raise our voices together and say:

We support our troops. End the war. Bring them home.

Because it is possible to stop a president who believes he can do no wrong--it just takes people with the courage to do what's right.

There is a good reason behind this rally. Listen to Alex, a soldier who just got back from Iraq. He says we are spending more time defending ourselves against even children who are throwing grenades at our troops, instead of accepting our candy. The surge is not working. It's best we send our troops home and we should speak out about this.

Check out JRE's new website, http://www.supportthetroopsendthewar.com/. Sign up and click the what you wish to do. For me, it will be a sign in my yard thanking the troops and to pray for peace. You can write your Congressman, which seems fruitless where I live (my congressman is a Republican who supports the McCain doctrine), but I probably will anyway. I will definitely be writing my Senators, Obama and Durbin. This will be a test for Obama, who has stood by idly so far and did not support the Kerry/Feingold bill last year, which failed.

However, there's more you can do to reclaim our patriotism. You can attend a rally, bring a sign to a parade, or grab the mike. We cannot wait for John Edwards to get elected. We must start brokering peace by bringing our troops home and allow the Iraqis to assemble themselves to determine their own governance.

A call to patriotism. It's not new. And we will do it because it is not only for our security, but also a matter of life and death, as Edwards says. We cannot be silent anymore.