We all know that Memorial Day honors those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These young men and women sign their lives away when they sign on the dotted line. Most jobs are not like that. I understand a little bit about sacrifice and what it can truly do someone that is left behind. My husband lost his best friend while deployed to Iraq 8 years ago. He died in my husband’s arms. We talk about him at least once a week; he reminisces with me about their time together. We both wear a bracelet every day to honor him. He along with all of the soldiers that gave their lives for us are in our hearts every day.
This second topic I will touch on will share the stories of our alumni and staff discussing what Memorial Day means to them in terms of sacrifice. Here is what they had to say:
Phil Eskew (Colonel), MD’70, IUPUI
“Memorial Day is the most important “Day” on the calendar for Americans. This is the day that we remember all who have served, all who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives and all who continue to serve and protect our country.”
Dave Kerkhoff, BA’85, IU Bloomington
“Memorial Day always means that we are fortunate to enjoy our lifestyle of freedom. that is freedom to do just about anything we want, and to pursue our goals/dreams that we want, when we want to. thanks to those who served and sacrificed, we have prevailed against tyranny. I believe that in years to come, it will be as relevant due to global threats and how they will evolve. it is sad, but our future generations will be serving and sacrificing to keep the freedoms alive.”
Joan Hall, IUAA Director of Membership, Former IU Student
“My younger son recently enlisted in the Navy. His experience has given me newfound respect for the commitment and sacrifice made by not only those who choose to serve our country, but also their families.”
David Jarrett (Retired Colonel), BA’70, MD’73, IU Bloomington and IUPUI
“Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hill, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.’
The lyrics of “Taps” should remind us that Memorial Day is not a holiday to celebrate; it is a holiday to reflect. The last Monday in May is set aside to remember service members and other public servants who gave their lives in the defense of freedom. When you hear, or even echo in your mind, the simple melody of “Taps”, please take a moment to simply thank the hundreds of thousands of heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Monday at National Cemeteries across the globe, wreaths and flags will be placed on the graves of fallen heroes. Buglers will play “Taps”. Short speeches will be made, and salutes will be rendered. These are simply the outward trappings of respect. The real honor that is due these men and women is in how you remember them and what they did. In military hospitals, wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and civilians will salute with their remaining arms. They will sit tall in their wheelchairs and not notice their missing legs; instead they will see the faces of their comrades who did not make it home.
Most of these heroes were eighteen to twenty-five when they died. They didn’t all speak English, they weren’t all even citizens. They had once had an opportunity to have a family, to watch their children graduate from High School, to live, laugh, love, barbeque, swim, play ball, drink, argue. They traded that opportunity for eighteen square feet of dirt, a bronze plaque, and your Freedom. Please honor them with your thoughts and prayers.”
Gene Renuart, (Retired General), BS’71, IU Bloomington
“As I have walked among the many White Crosses and Stars of David at American Cemeteries in Flanders, in Luxembourg, in Normandy, in Hawaii, and c ertainly, at Arlington, I am forever reminded of the millions of young men and women who have raised their hand and said “Send Me” and who selflessly carried the shield of defense for our country around the world and who won those freedoms we take for granted with sweat, with blood, and too many, with their lives. My dad and three of his brothers, all now deceased, were part of that “Greatest Generation” that left their homes at very young ages, with no timeline for return, and went to all corners of the world and put themselves in harm’s way…Three of the four returned. They are some of my faces of Memorial Day. Other faces of Memorial Day are those of Capt Eric Miller, my young wingman during A-10 combat operations in Iraq during Desert Storm as a brand new fighter pilot…Killed in training after 40+ combat missions; or of Major Jeff Watterberg, also a Desert Storm combat veteran who lost his life in a training accident; or of Lt Col Dutch VanderVeen, my operations Operations officer in that same 76th Fighter Squadron who had to be medevaced from the combat theater after completing a combat mission only to succumb to cancer; or Technical Sergeant Scott Duffman, a USAF Pararescueman killed in Afghanistan leaving a young wife and 4 month old daughter. These are all my faces of Memorial Day.
And then I walk among and talk to the many Gold Star Families who carry on after losing their loved one…My grandparents, Denis and Edith Renuart, who lost one four sons who served during WW II…Mary and Sophia Duffman, who lost their husband and daddy…Bill and Nancy Hecker who lost a son…Mark and Carol Graham who lost two sons…And many others! All of them suffer with tragic loss, and yet also great pride in what their son or husband or daddy or their mommy did to serve our Nation. These are also my faces of Memorial Day, but also faces of tomorrow. They understand how high the price of freedom can be and are also my faces of Memorial Day.
Memorial Day is a solemn celebration…A day of remembrance and a day of joy…Joy and thanks for the precious freedoms we enjoy in our country…And remembrance of those who earned that freedom…Thank God for those who have said, and who say…Send Me!”
Bill Bagley, (Former Sergeant), BA’75, IU Bloomington
“I come from a family where most have served in the military: We have family members who served in the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, both sides of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, during the Vietnam War, and in Desert Storm. Family members have served in all branches of the military. We have been fortunate to only have lost one family member in all of these conflicts…a cousin who was a pilot in the United States Air Force died when his jet crashed during a training mission for service in Korea. (We remember him every day.) However, all of us knew and were close to comrades who never returned to their families. The ultimate sacrifice was paid. Memorial Day is a time to remember all of these great souls…and to thank them for their dedication to this Country and its People.”
Soldiers give the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. They are never forgotten and rest in our hearts. Next week, I will share stories that touch on valor. We have some very brave IU alumni and I am so honored to share their stories with you.