We owe them a great debt

Editor:

Today, we honor ordinary men and women compelled by love of liberty and country to serve, ordinary men and women who acted in an extraordinary way, with selfless service, honor, integrity and courage, ordinary men and women who disappeared into death's sullen dark.

We are left with our duty to honor those who sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom, those who fought, those who died, those who stand ready to do the same whenever the defense of freedom demands it; those who at great cost gave us a priceless gift we enjoy every day.

We say "thank you" when a store clerk hands us change. We wave "thank you" when a motorist yields us the right-of-way. We thank our friends when they give us compliments. If you think about it, we probably use the words "thank you" or some variation of it at least a dozen times a day. But how do you thank someone for saving the world?

When you ask young men and women to endure great hardships, drastically change their lifestyles and possibly give their lives for you, the words "thank you" seem woefully insufficient.

Simply put, we owe them a debt that can never be repaid.

At its heart, Memorial Day has always been a holiday that commemorates not nationalism or partnership but rather the universal inclusiveness that understands "no greater love than this does any man have, that he laid down his life for his friends."

The lives of the fallen soldiers we honor today - our fathers, our mothers, brothers, sisters, children and friends - were valuable lives not lost in vain. As we mourn the lives lost, we celebrate the lives lived and be grateful.

It has often been said that without veterans, Americans would be speaking Russian, German or perhaps Japanese. Regardless of which view of alternative history you take, we do know without veterans, America would not be America.

The greatest wars are the battles that America does not have to fight because those who wish us harm slink away in fear of the Coast Guard cutter, the Navy aircraft carrier or the Army soldier on patrol.

We must honor their families, not just with blue and gold star banners, but with open hearts. Help the busy mother of two with her yard work, while her husband is fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

And perhaps, most important of all, thank today's service members for the sacrifices that they are making. For America as well. God bless our veterans, and God bless America.

Omar Salas Padron,

American Legion Post 43,

Brownsville