Memorial Day

This weekend we will recognize those who have given their lives in service to our country. Here in Union County, Georgia we will have a memorial day parade on Saturday. Tomorrow, I will work with other volunteers to complete the Union County Historical Society's entry in that parade. We will remember the 158 men from Union County who have lost their lives in the wars that have taken place since the county was created in 1832. That number includes 94 men from both the South and the North who were killed during the Civil War. Fortunately, we have not lost anyone in the current fiasco in Iraq...yet.

I hope that everyone takes a moment this weekend to remember those who have sacrificed for our country, whether actually in "defense of freedom" or because of some politician's particularly narrow minded vision. Few of our wars have really been in "defense of freedom." I hear the current action in Iraq continually referred to in this way, however, I cannot for the life of me determine how this calamity "defends" freedom. In reality the current administration is more a threat to our freedom than anyone in Iraq.

So many of our young men and women have lost lives and limbs over the past few years in Iraq. Today's military is all volunteer, but, still they must go where they are sent, no matter how poor the leadership and planning. They are not fighting a war to rid the world of Adolph Hitler or Hideki Tojo, but their lives and their sacrifices are just as important. The same is true for those who died in Vietnam because of poor leadership at home. They were there because they were sent by their country. They didn't have a choice, and they deserve to be remembered.

I hope that by this time next year we will see the light at the end of the tunnel in Iraq. Maybe we can focus our resources on Afghanistan and remove the real threat to our world. Whatever, the case, let us hope that fewer of our service people are in harms way. I certainly hope that we in Union County still have 158 souls listed on our war memorial.