Memorial Day


This weekend I intended to write up an essay covering the infrastructure needs of the city that were presented at a hearing regarding a state capitol bill that was held on May 3rd.

However.

Something else has been occupying my mind these past few weeks. Perhaps it is that this month marks the fourth anniversary of my mother’s passing that has me in an introspective mood, or something else.

My wife and I are veterans, Army proud, both of us were Intelligence Analysts who bore witness to the final stages of the Cold War. Whatever you do, don’t dismiss or underestimate that long twilight struggle that lasted almost 50 years. The danger was real, and lives were lost, often in places and circumstances where they couldn’t be acknowledged until many years had passed.

I’ve written before about one of those stories in a blog I wrote a few years ago; Memorial Day Remembrance: The Last Casualty of the Cold War.  Previous to those events my wife did a tour of duty at the Berlin Field Station and she recalls that Major Nicholson was a very good dancer.

It’s a memory.

There are no bonds of friendship that mean so much or last so long as those forged in our youth, especially when tempered with shared misery, adversity, and danger.

Earlier this month, we traveled to Maryland to celebrate the retirement from service to the Federal Government of one of our brethren, and had a mini-reunion. The four of us reminiscing and swapping stories of our time together in a place that no longer exists except in history books. Each memory renewing bonds that are perhaps even closer than those of family.

As we mark this Memorial Day, I think of those who we honor and the family and friends they left behind. Today, they are names engraved on a stone, but once they were vital and alive, with the whole future ahead of them.

They never had the chance to reminisce with their old friends about those times they were all cold, or wet, went without sleep for three days, got drunk and dodged the MP’s, or snatched the company guidon right out of the commander’s tent during an exercise. Or show off pictures of their kids and grandkids to each other.

Their sacrifice ensured that we who followed could.

Zion, Illinois

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Civic Pride - One Block at at Time

This summer, the City of Zion has been working with the Citizens United Behind Zion (CUBZ) committee in setting up neighborhood clean up days. Picking a section of the city and gathering some volunteers, city staff, and elected officials like myself to spend a Saturday morning picking up the litter along the public streets and alleyways. This being the age of Social media, the event is promoted online, and pictures and videos are posted and shared to the public, often in real time. That is the world we live in now, and the other part of that world are the comments from the readers of those postings. I have read some comments about yesterday’s event and the previous one too, and there are some questions that deserve a more in-depth response than a simple reply on a comment thread. Rather than getting tangled in the verbal weeds, I’ll briefly paraphrase the key points. ‘Thank you! Great job!’ Which needs no response other than an appreciative thumbs up, however there are other
Read more

Statement on the Sale of Recreational Cannabis in the City of Zion

At this evening's meeting of the Zion City Council, there was a discussion regarding the possible prohibition of sales of recreational cannabis.  The following is the text of my statement on the subject, as written. The most frequent request I have received from homeowners has been to find a way to lower their taxes. To that end, I have consistently advocated every effort to obtain; alternative revenue, grants, matching funds, and nuclear storage compensation. I have also been a strong proponent for economic development through the establishment of TIF districts and an Enterprise Zone. All of these efforts have the primary objective of restoring balance to the city’s finances, reducing the city’s portion of the tax levy, and ultimately to provide direct tax relief to homeowners. I believe that all members of this Council share this goal. The city budget ideally is a balance between operational costs and available revenue. As stewards of the public trust we are regularly implore
Read more

Anatomy of the Meeting Packet

Image
Reading is Fundamental Advice for Prospective Candidates It’s election season again, and I am not talking about the midterm election coming up in November, but rather the next Consolidated General Election coming up in April 2019.  The Consolidated General is the election for local municipal offices, and this time around there will be two of the Commissioner seats and the Mayor on the ballot for Zion, all for four year terms. I believe that local government has more direct impact on our daily lives than anything that happens in Springfield or even D.C., and candidates should exhibit that sense of gravitas, especially at the city or township level.   Now, I will not be on the ballot in April, as the terms for City Commissioners are staggered, with two of the seats going up for election every two years. To be honest, I am glad for the break after running in three consecutive elections; 2013, 2015, and finally 2017 when I won my current seat.  I had never ran for or held
Read more