By Ray Coe, Vietnam War Veteran & Scoutmaster, Troop 31, Chadds Ford, Pa.
Good morning. I want to thank all of you for joining me as we memorialize the sacrifices made by those in this cemetery as well as all of the U. S. servicemen who lay in rest throughout this and many other countries.
For the past several years my primary role at the Memorial service has been scoutmaster of Troop 31 of Chadds Ford. However, I also come as a veteran and this year, in assuming this special honor, it is my privilege to attend primarily as a veteran. In whatever capacity, I am here to pay reverence to my fallen comrades of all wars. Because all veterans share a special bond- we have all given some, and some have given it all- in the service of these United States.
For the first few years I returned from Vietnam, Memorial Day was a troubling time for me. Initially I tried to forget the pain of the loss of my fellow soldiers. Later I would quietly remember them in my heart as the memories of the face of death and serious injury overwhelmed me. My own Purple Heart served only as a memory of how lucky I was while I agonized over the loss of others.
I chose not to go to any memorial services partly because I tried to forget the war. And partly because for a very long time I felt, as so many Vietnam veterans did, that we were not accepted as war veterans. We did not feel welcome at the services of other veterans. Fortunately, that attitude has changed. Vietnam Veterans have taken their rightful place as leaders for veterans, and for remembering all who have lost their lives serving these great United States.
While this day is special for me, I did not really grasp it as fully as I should until I started to research Memorial Day. My hope was to get a richer understanding that would help me convey something meaningful to you today. I have read dozens of poems, speeches and articles. Most expressed the profound obligation we owe our fallen for the sacrifices they have made for us and our way of life. Many express how our country, our freedoms and our very way of life has been built on their sacrifices.
Still others speak to the origin of Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day, some historical references say it began when Confederate wives, while putting memorials on the graves of their fallen husbands, saw the graves of Union soldiers and honored their sacrifice with memorials. Still other articles said that it was started in New York as family members decided a day in May would be used to honor their fallen family members and in 1868 it became an official holiday. Initially celebrated on the 30th, the date has changed several times over the years. The wars that keep this day fresh in the minds of our citizens have continued all too often.
The face of war has changed dramatically over the years. Each war we have entered has been divisive; some more so than others. We were reluctant to enter both WWI and WWII, but finally it became impossible for us to remain neutral. Communism was the despised enemy in Korea. And initially we felt obligated to try to stem the flow of communism in SE Asia by entering the war in Vietnam. Originally it was billed as a war to keep a free country, South Vietnam, from falling to the communists of North Vietnam. The ensuing years changed the face of this struggle, and a war that seemingly started as a struggle for freedom became a war of wills between the North and the USA. The North realized they had the advantage of time. The dramatically changing American society of the sixties, and a press that fed us with reports of everything our soldiers did wrong helped to turn our society against the war. Our victories, such as the Tet Offensive, were twisted into defeat by the press because of the large number of dead and the awful destruction. Lack of support for the military forced us to draft people to serve, and our average soldier’s age was only 19. Compared to the average age of 26 for WWII and 23 for the Iraq war, it is easy to see how the young, barely trained soldiers had their hands full fighting a guerilla war in which the enemy was like a ghost at night and during the day he was one of the friendly villagers. The battlefront was everywhere. There was danger from civilians, booby traps, mines, rockets, and snipers to compliment the conventional warfare.
Our citizens looked for answers, for relief, for a way to end this war. When they could get no satisfaction from the government, they turned on the returning soldier. It became one the lowest points in the history of the treatment of our military as we ridiculed, attacked and defamed our returning soldiers.
Years later our sensibilities changed and we realized the horrible treatment of our soldiers was shameful. For many Vietnam veterans the poor treatment led them to personally destructful behavior and worse. Many had horrible times with their personal relationships, with finding jobs, and especially with acceptance in society.
Eventually time, the Vietnam Wall and other factors healed some of the wounds and we were accepted as all military personnel should be. We finally were given the same help and treatment afforded those of other wars.
Today, our soldiers command much more respect than we did. But they still suffer from low pay, uneven and poorly administered benefits and from the governmental excuses to either extend their service or cut their benefits. While our citizens for the most part are respectful and thankful for their service, our government is not living up to its obligations.
The way we treat our military says volumes about us. As we both celebrate the freedom our fallen have provided and memorialize the price they paid, I would ask that you also consider the future – the future that these brave servants have given us. And remember that we best memorialize their service with our commitment. Our commitment to insure the support of our military and the way of life they have given us. And a commitment to insure that our ensuing generations never forget the debt they owe to these brave fallen heroes. And use their sacrifices as an example of who real heroes are. As our children choose television and movie stars, sports players and rock stars as their heroes, we find that they are usually disappointed by these self hyped imperfect people. The real heroes of society, the firemen, the policemen, the teachers and our military personnel are under appreciated and overlooked by those who choose the less perfect examples called stars.
Our youngest generation needs to know that a hero does not dunk an orange ball or hit a little white one. A hero puts his life on the line for you. A hero knows that his duty is to give his life if necessary to protect the constitution of these Great American States. A real hero does that because he knows that the greatest country of the world enjoys the greatest gift God has given us-personal freedom. A free United States guarantees this will continue. The price of this freedom is high-all who have served or have fallen for this country know this all too well.
I truly hope that none of you ever have to go into harm’s way. But whatever sacrifices we may have to make, pray they maintain the freedoms and rights that these brave men and women in this and all of the hallowed cemeteries throughout the world fought to preserve for all of us.
Thank you and God bless all of you and those we memorialize today.
