Putting the ‘Memorial’ in Memorial Day

I find it arrogant, at best, to make judgments on subjects about which we know nothing, or very little.

Over the past week or so, I had the opportunity to talk with some local heroes — folks who made great sacrifices to defend our country, men who recently returned home from a year in Iraq.

The three veterans I interviewed all shared a common theme: We are making progress in Iraq.

“Over there, you see the despair,” one of the men told me. “If you just live in a world where there’s no happiness, no peace, hunger — what smiles you do see, we brought those smiles to the Iraqi people. That made you feel good.”

What is perhaps more inspiring: All of the soldiers I interviewed told me they would return to Iraq at a moment’s duty, if duty called.

For just one day, whether you agree with what our country is doing, let’s remember those fighting on our behalf. Those who are fighting so we have the right to say what we want to say and dissent from our leaders, even in a time or war.