Remember This for Memorial Day

April 30, 2004

Memorial Day arrives in one month in the United States. For our family this has tended to just be a three day weekend - a time to relax or go somewhere and enjoy an extra day away from school or work. It would serve all of us well, however, to actually note what Memorial Day is all about and act accordingly. Our nation is at war, a war that in all likelihood will persist long after the current fires in Iraq die down. Whether we agree with the course of the current conflict or not, our nation's servicemen and women deserve our full measure of support. More importantly, we owe those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of this country and its constitution our respect and gratitude this Memorial Day. If we want a great example of how to do it right, we should look at Australia.

I had the privilege of witnessing the ANZAC Day parade this past Sunday in Sydney. ANZAC Day is the Australian version of Memorial Day and Veteran's Day combined. The courage and sacrifice of the Australian and New Zealand Armed Corp (ANZAC) has been well documented. Whether in service of Her Majesty, Australia's allies (such as the U.S.), or their country's own needs, the servicemen and servicewomen of Australia's armed forces have distinguished themselves from the shores of Gallipoli in World War I to the current Iraq conflict.

Australia knows how to do such a parade right. Unlike Memorial Day parades in the U.S., there were no commercial floats; no pageant queens, no Ford-Lincoln-Mercury dealerships, no department stores. All one saw were bands, servicemen, and veterans - lots of them. For four solid hours the crowds lining the parade route witnessed veterans of all ages stream by. I saw veterans from conflicts all the way back to World War I. A 105 year old soldier from the Great War was near the head of the parade! Those not able to walk were piled into a convoy of taxis that led with a wild waving of Australian flags. Those barely able to walk showed the same fortitude they had shown in service of their country by making their way down the entire route, in many cases leaning on the arms of their mates.

I was moved to tears as I witnessed the outpouring of gratitude and support that poured forth from the crowd to these veterans. Heart-felt thank you's repeatedly rained upon the veterans and they saluted the crowd right back. Lest it become too serious, barroom chants of "Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!" from one side of the street were immediately answered by "Hoy! Hoy! Hoy!" from the other side of the street. The crowd was a cross-section of Sydney and included people of all ages. Families with children were especially prevalent and shamed me to think of the poor example I have set with my own family. It's funny that I had to go to Australia to learn this! Even worse, I was the only one from my family witnessing this. I had left early by myself to film the parade and left everyone else to sleep in for Sunday morning.

As we approach Memorial Day in the U.S., make plans to honor our servicemen, our veterans, and our war dead. Take your family to a military cemetery. Talk to organizers of the local parade and ask them to better honor the veterans and servicemen. Ask your neighbors to join you. E-mail a serviceman currently serving in Iraq and tell them of our appreciation. As for us, we will be in Beijing for Memorial Day and I don't anticipate finding any parades with American flags or cemeteries with American war dead. But I bet I can at least find American servicemen to honor in the American Embassy!

American servicemen and servicewomen are around the world right now away from their families and suffering hardship and dangers in defense of America. Rather than following the currently all-too-prevalent attitude of meaningless, jingoistic patriotism, follow the moving example of this wonderful country on the other side of the world and show that you truly care.