Memorial Day 2018

Spring had sprung. Summer was fast approaching. And it was Memorial Day: a day of national observance of those who died in wars and conflicts, protecting the United States and her interests. It was a day celebrating the might of men and their ability to conquer and slaughter evil (real or imagined). As summer came and now is slowly going, it’s late-August and I’ve finally gotten to a place mentally to say something about the photos I took and my experience attending three Memorial Day events this year. Each was very different in how they honored the fallen and glorify, or not, war. By the end of the day I was emotionally drained.

I first visited Forest Hill Cemetery where the Union and Confederate rest ceremonies were held. I attended this ceremony two years ago, and as I moved around, I again became acutely aware of the lack of anyone not white; there were no people of color in uniform nor in the crowd. It’s disappointing that in this day and age, as we have learned more about history, brining to light what was hidden or not talked about, that a place hasn’t been made in the ceremony at Union rest for say the Buffalo Soldiers.

At the Confederate rest the remembrance speech quickly turned to how it was a dishonor to those who served and died to be removing confederate monuments and statues. Two men speaking, Alan Zeuner and Dan Bradford expressed disgust with Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and the cities Liberal majority. Bradford said, “I will bring my AR and AK here if they try to remove this [monument]!” Additionally, there was no talk of the awful cause the South was fighting for, slavery. It’s as if they believed there was no way to honor those who died while stating that they died to keep people in chains. Nor, did they say that the war was also about preserving a way of life for the elite rich white plantation and business owners, the one-percenters of the time.

Next stop, the Wisconsin State Capital. This event was a broad, all encompassing event, focusing on all wars and conflicts, and men and women from all branches of the armed services. Here was a more diverse group of veterans and attendees. A band played. A soldiers cross was constructed. And the names of the numerous wars and conflicts were called out, prompting a representative to come forward and place a flower at the base of the soldiers cross.

The last stop was a peace rally at the Gates of Heaven Synagogue. It was organized by Veterans for Peace, a group made up of veterans and non-veterans who oppose war. This event focused on the human and monetary costs of war. They talked about the innocent lives lost and about the insane amount of money spent on war and how it could have been used to provide help and support to those in need, to improve education, and repair our collapsing infrastructure, instead of serving the masters of war.

Going to war is a life changing event to be sure. And something I have not experienced. But to celebrate war and death in this way only perpetuates war and brings more death; and in this time of the oligarchs, that is a dangerous thing. We have a president fixated on wanting parades reminiscent of those seen in China, Russia and other countries obsessed with flexing their military–industrial complex (MIC) prowess. We have been fed lies and told half-truths about the reasons for going to war. There certainly have been horrific, brutal men that have needed to be put in check and/or removed from power. But what we’re not told is the cost of war and whose interests are being protected. We gloss over how innocent men, women and children died as a result of our incursion into countries around the world. While the soldiers doing their patriotic duty to defend this great nation were marching through the towns and cities of Europe, Vietnam, Korea, and the southern United States, they left in their wake many who had no say about going to war. Like so many war movies, those we fought and those who were non-combatants are relegated, more often than not, at events like these, to nameless, faceless extras who do not deserve our attention or sympathy. But they do deserve our attention and remembrance.

In closing, I understand the reason for Memorial Day and its importance to some. For others, it’s the end of a three day weekend. And for myself, it’s a continued reminder that combatants are not the only causalities of war. There are millions who die unnecessarily as a result of our quest for dominance, at the bidding of those whose greed is insatiable, and committed by men and women lulled to duty by a false sense of patriotism. In the end, all are victims.