Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, the day set aside to remember those who died in wars.

These are people who died in a war, died in hospital soon after wounding in a war and died of secondary causes. Those who died of secondary causes include "Stonewall" Jackson. General Jackson was shot by friendly fire. He died in hospital from pneumonia eight days later.

There are those who survived combat or simply survived in a war zone and after returning "home" committed suicide. I believe these men and women to be war dead, just as if they had been killed in combat.

There are those who served in combat or in war zones or in support role (i.e. on ships) who were kicked out for being lesbian, gay, bisexual (as it was known in the 1970s and 1980s) once they were no longer use able weapons. This is and was wrong.

How many were given the boot in the ass during "don't ask, don't tell"?

How many of those in the Armed Forces were treated with disdain and disrespect by politicians who had never worn the uniform?

How can those who never wore the uniform presume to say what those serving want?

This ends my written Meditations on Memorial Day for this year...