Memorial Day: Respect, Reverence, Reawakening

America must pause to honor all who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Our nation must be reawakened by igniting a fire of respect, reverence, and remembrance in our souls.

Honoring all who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom is not only a privilege, but a sacred responsibility.

There must be a renewal of respect in the heart of America.

America must eternally heed the words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt:

“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.”

America’s Flag: Symbol of Respect

As we honor Memorial Day, respect for America’s flag must be integral.

Our flag is the symbol of America, deserving of reverence, respect, and dignity.

In traditional observance of Memorial Day, the flag is raised briskly to the top of the mast. Then, it is reverently lowered to half-staff where it remains till noon. For the remainder of Memorial Day, it is raised to full-staff.

The half-staff flag solemnly honors well over one million men and women who have died to preserve our freedom.

At noon, their memory is honored with a full-staff flag, symbolizing that their sacrifices are not in vain.

The Flags of Arlington National Cemetery

At Arlington National Cemetery, one of America’s national cemeteries and the hallowed ground for more than 14,000 veterans, our flag holds a special place of honor.

On the Thursday before Memorial Day, over 1,200 soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry place an American flag at each of over 260,000 gravestones at Arlington.

Afterwards, these soldiers patrol the cemetery, 24 hours per day, throughout the weekend, to insure that the flags remain standing.

America’s flag is inseparable from honor for all who have offered the ultimate sacrifice.

Perhaps these words of an unknown author best articulate honoring our fallen and our flag:

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”

There are countless stories of the fallen, of which these two inspire respect.

U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. August Sacker Jr.

During World War II over 400,000 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice to save civilization from tyranny.

One such American was U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. August Sacker Jr., who joined the Marines when he was 22 years old. After previously quitting high school, sacker went back to earn his diploma to meet Marine requirements.

Sacker was killed June 15, 1944, on the first day of the Battle of Saipan, one week after his 31st birthday. Six months prior, he was wounded in the Pacific theater and received the Purple Heart. After convalescence, Sacker requested deployment to the European theater but was sent back to the Pacific where he was killed.

I learned about Sacker after noticing his vintage World War II photograph in the living room of my neighbor Marie, his surviving sister who since then has also passed on. Marie inspired me by her devotion to her brother by visiting his grave on a monthly basis for over 40 years while she was healthy enough to do so.

Sacker is buried in Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, N.J. His sister said, “Visiting the grave of my brother and remembering all who made the ultimate sacrifice reminds us of the enduring value of character that is America’s destiny.”

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Mark H. Dooley

On July 13, 2007, I was privileged to attend the full military interment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery of Army 1st Lt. Mark H. Dooley, 27—killed in Iraq on Sept. 19, 2005. Lt. Dooley’s assignment was in the 2nd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 42nd Infantry Division, Vermont Army National Guard.

I was invited to this solemn event by his parents, Marion and Peter Dooley. I met Marion Dooley at a school violence prevention presentation for the Wallkill School District in New York on Nov. 22, 2006. Because I honor American military personnel at each of my presentations, Marion shared with me the story of her son.

Although there are many vignettes that can be used to capture the event, I will never forget the expressive faces of those who honored Mark and the “clip-clop” of horse hooves in soothing cadence as they transported the caisson that carried Mark’s remains. It was the perfect orchestration of nature and emotions during the one-mile procession to Mark’s final resting place—as though even the horses sympathized with the gravity of the interment.

Final Reflections

As America honors the fallen on this Memorial Day, may we reawaken reverence throughout our land.

Perhaps these words, from President John F. Kennedy will assist us with our observance:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter the words, but to live them.”

Related Coverage:

Memorial Day: Honor the Fallen, Widows, Orphans

Memorial Day: Honoring America's Sacred Sacrifices

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Vincent is author of over 275 articles, and four books including Listen To Their Cries and Reawakening America. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

Photos

1. Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery. (Vincent J. Bove)
2. American flags at the graves of U.S. soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in preparation for Memorial Day in Arlington, Va., on May 21, 2015. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
3. U.S. Marine Lt. August Sacker, who was killed at the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Courtesy Marie: Vincent J. Bove Publishing)
4. Internment procession of Lt. Mark H. Dooley, Arlington National Cemetery, July 13, 2007. (Vincent J. Bove)

Armed Forces Day: Honor, Leadership, Protecting America

Today, May 16, 2020, America will celebrate Armed Forces Day.

It is commemorated annually, on the third Saturday of each May, to express gratitude for all men and women serving in America’s armed forces.

Armed Forces Day is also a part of Armed Forces Week, which begins each year on the second Saturday of May.

Armed Forces Day History
As detailed on the U.S. Department of Defense Armed Forces Day website, Armed Forces Day was created on August 31, 1949.

The purpose of this new day was to integrate previous separate Army, Navy, and Air Force Days and to combine these with honoring all who serve, including the Marines and Coast Guard.

This single day commemoration reflects the unity of all serving in our armed forces under the Department of Defense.

Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States, understood clearly the critical importance of America’s armed forces. His assuming the office of the presidency after the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the waning months of World War II served as his lesson.

In a speech honoring the formation of Armed Forces Day, President Truman “praised the work of the military services at home and across the seas.”

Truman also stated that our armed forces are “vital to the security of the nation and to the establishment of a desirable peace.”

In his Presidential Proclamation of Feb. 27, 1950, Truman articulated the principles of collaboration, readiness, and preparedness, by stating the following:

"Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20, 1950, marks the first combined demonstration by America's defense team of its progress, under the National Security Act, towards the goal of readiness for any eventuality. It is the first parade of preparedness by the unified forces of our land, sea, and air defense".

Just a few years later in 1953, another president, Dwight D. Eisenhower, honored Armed Forces Day by stating the following:

"Today let us, as Americans, honor the American fighting man. For it is he-the soldier, the sailor, the Airman, the Marine-who has fought to preserve freedom. It is his valor that has given renewed hope to the free world that by working together in discipline and faith our ideals of freedom will always prevail."

Safeguarding Peace

America, and all governments of the world are obligated to work for peace and avoid war.

However, we need our armed forces since the dangers of war persist and we cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, especially when all efforts of peaceful negotiation have failed.

The wisdom of Winston Churchill in his speech before the House of Commons on May 31, 1935, is applicable to “a corridor of deepening and darkening danger” taking place in the world today.

“It would be folly for us to act as if we were swimming in a halcyon sea, as if nothing but balmy breezes and calm weather were to be expected and everything were working in the most agreeable fashion. By all means follow your lines of hope and your paths of peace, but do not close your eyes to the fact that we are entering a corridor of deepening and darkening danger, and that we shall have to move along it for many months and possibly for years to come … It is not only the supreme question of self-preservation that is involved in the realization of these dangers, but also the human and the world cause of the preservation of free Governments and of Western civilization against the ever-advancing forces of authority and despotism.”

Just War Doctrine

As America commemorates Armed Forces Day, a moment to reflect on the strict conditions for legitimate defense of military force deserves consideration.

America’s military has a treasured legacy as the ethical protectors of freedom, democracy, and moral decency. This honorable legacy is also applicable to our defense of innocent, law-abiding people of many nations.

As “deepening and darkening dangers” ignite, the gravity of a decision to use military force must always respect ethical principles. These are commonly understood as the Just War Doctrine.

These principles involve the following:

• The damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
• All other means of stopping the aggressor must be impractical or ineffective;
• There must be serious probability of success through the military action;
• The use of military action must not produce destructive consequences and disorders greater than the aggression to be terminated. The capabilities of modern warfare, which can be catastrophic, if not cataclysmic, must be weighed heavily in determining the condition for using them.

Final Reflections

America must eternally honor all who protect us through military service.

These patriots are the ethical protectors of the security and freedom of America, and people of good will throughout the world.

When they fulfill their duty, they provide legitimate defense, a sacrosanct duty of their mission.

In the garden of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, is a powerful sculpture titled, “Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares” by Yevgeny Vuchetich.

The sculpture depicts these words from the Book of Isaiah:

“they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

As a gathering storm continues with division among nations, may nations heed these words and pray for peace.

Yet, let us always remember the sacred right we have to defend ourselves, and all people of moral decency.

May we be forever grateful for our Armed Forces, and may their sacrifices throughout the world serve the path of peace.

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, and former confident of the New York Yankees. He served as spokesperson for a coalition of victim’s families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. For more information: vincentbove.com or twitter @vincentjbove

Photo's

1. Armed Forces Day (Courtesy Department of Defense)
2. U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard, Times Square, Memorial Day, 2011. (Vincent J. Bove)
3. U.S. Navy Sailors, Times Square, NYC, May 21, 2015. (Vincent J. Bove)
4. U.S. Marine Corp, Times Square, NYC, May 22, 2015. (Vincent J. Bove)
5. “Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares” by Yevgeny Vuchetich, United Nations Headquarters, NYC. (Public Domain)

V-E Day 75th Anniversary: An Inspiration for America

V-E Day, standing for Victory in Europe, is a day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945.

Upon the defeat of Germany, celebrations erupted throughout the western world, especially in England and America.

In America, V-E Day coincided with President Harry Truman's 61st birthday. He dedicated the victory to the memory of his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), who had died of a cerebral hemorrhage less than a month earlier, on April 12.

Flags remained at half-staff for the remainder of the 30-day mourning period for FDR. Truman said of dedicating the victory to FDR’s memory and keeping the flags at half-staff that his only wish was "that Franklin D. Roosevelt had lived to witness this day"

Great celebrations took place in many American cities, especially in New York's Times Square.

President Harry S. Truman announced the victory in Europe to the American people and appointed Sunday, May 13 — Mother’s Day — a day of prayer for thanksgiving.

Truman’s announcement included, “Our rejoicing is sobered and subdued by a supreme consciousness of the terrible price we have paid to rid the world of Hitler and his evil band. Let us not forget, my fellow Americans, the sorrow and the heartache which today abide in the homes of so many of our neighbors — neighbors whose most priceless possession has been rendered as a sacrifice to redeem our liberty … If I could give you a single watchword for the coming months, that word is work, work, and more work. We must work to finish the war. Our victory is only half over.”

Many communities attempted to minimize celebrations, wanting to give the occasion the solemnity they felt it deserved and reminding Americans that, as Truman said, “Our victory is only half over.”

Across the country, however, celebrations erupted including Times Square. New Orleans ignited with a Mardi Gras style festivities. Church bells rang solemn sounds of victory throughout the nation.

Most importantly, factories continued with the work implored by President Truman. Production for the military saving civilization from tyranny continued as the drumbeat of American industry.

Lesson of VE Day: Resolution Vanquishes the Crisis

As I write this article, it is May 8, 2020, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day
New York City has always had a special place in my heart. I was born and raised in the city, and throughout many professional endeavors during my career, Times Square, the crossroads of the world, is a place that I have experienced countless times.

But, on the day, the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, my reflection on Times Square has an intensely historic retrospection. This is inspired by iconic black and white photographs of people of every conceivable background, ethnicity, nation, creed, and dream who were beckoned there on May 8, 1945 to celebrate V-E Day.

When one takes a moment to look into the eyes of those who gathered there on that memorable day, one can experience the soul of America, and the hope of America reawakened. This reawakening was built on courage, optimism, and enthusiastic aspirations, after years of chaos, mayhem, and an unimagined dimension of death inflicted upon humanity.

The lesson of V-E Day is pertinent, timeless, and indefatigable, especially as another suffering has been unleashed upon our nation and the world by the coronavirus.

We must remember that we are mystically united, the good people of American now, and with those during the world during World War II. We must carry the torch of unwavering determination, single-mindedness, moral courage, and unshakable resolve. This virtues will raise us up again. We will rise by our unified and steadfast resolution to conquer this new crisis.

Let us understand our resolve. Resolution is understood by Webster's dictionary as a process or determination for a course of action, method or procedure to achieve a desired outcome.

It is common to think of a resolution as a change, normally a transformation to begin a new lifestyle, or a new year's resolution.

The word resolution itself is derived from the Latin word, resolvere, that is, "to come to a definite or earnest decision with a concrete plan of action."

America's Resolve: Inspired by Our History

Moral courage in a calm, demanding, and persevering manner must be the order of the day and America must respond with a new resolution to leadership.

Leadership must always be highlighted by character, to expedite transformation from a culture of crisis, to the ideals of service and dedication to community.

America need only reflect retrospectively on the leadership and events of its noble past to be reignited with the call of FDR, "this generation has a rendezvous with destiny".

The destiny FDR reminded us of is complemented by our founding fathers.

In the book, The Founding Fathers on Leadership, Classic Teamwork in Changing Times, author Donald T. Philips highlights that although the early patriots were outgunned by a ruthless dictator with unlimited resources, they had the ingenuity, passion, resolution, and determination to achieve victory.

The founding fathers exemplified that truly great leaders exhibit traits inherent to their very fiber.

These traits include a high ethical standard of doing the right thing, an almost uncontrollable desire to achieve, a propensity for lifelong learning, and a dedication to self-improvement.

As manifested in the results of the Revolutionary War, this ethical foundation translated into courage in adversity, a willingness to take risks, a sense of destiny and a personal conviction that they were meant for greatness. 1

Abraham Lincoln: A Heart of Character

Abraham Lincoln is admired as a leader with masterful communication and persuasion skills. Lincoln developed these skills by keenly understanding the philosopher Aristotle's Treatise on Rhetoric which explains a leader's ability to persuade as:
"Persuasion is only achieved by means of a moral character that renders the speaker worthy of confidence. Credibility is the most powerful means of persuasion". 2

If only the character of Abraham Lincoln were truly taken to heart by those in authority, life would ultimately be transformed within American society. Messages are more often heard and followed when the communicator is understood to be honest, sincere and truly concerned about others. 3

World War II Icons: FDR and Eisenhower

FDR responded to the ominous days of World War II by demanding that America have "a toughness of moral and physical fiber which is precisely the characteristics of a free people, a people dedicated to the institutions they themselves have built".
FDR's leadership made the presidency and the flag rallying points for all Americans.

President Roosevelt had faith in the power of democracy, and an unwavering confidence in the American people. This faith in the dignity of the American people ignited one of the most profound transformation of community in American history. It is a transformation built on moral courage, confidence, and collaboration that intimately united the military in harm’s way on distant shores with the industriousness of the citizenry back home on the American homeland. 4

Complementing the leadership of FDR was General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower exercised leadership by never yelling, shouting, or losing his temper.

His effectiveness as a General was that he was a dedicated father and grandfather figure to those entrusted to his care. Eisenhower’s temperament helped to build an atmosphere of friendly cooperation and teamwork without any misunderstanding that he was in charge. 5

General Eisenhower developed a community mentality among the special breed of American men and women who truly did great things for America.
America and the world must forever remember these lessons of the past. These servants of freedom must be eternally remembered for saving democracy and modern civilization itself.

General Eisenhower made American proud of its call to be liberators and that their mission would be profoundly important on the world as he stated, "The destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for us in a free world is our mission". 6

Final Reflections

The essence of leadership that can transform a corporation, community and the nation is, and can only be evident by character as proven by the great leaders and events in American history.

It is America's destiny, to once again rise up by a renewed resolution to a new era of transformation ignited by personal and national character, credibility and conviction to our call as a new "generation that has a rendezvous with destiny".

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, and former confident of the New York Yankees. He served as spokesperson for a coalition of victim’s families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. For more information: vincentbove.com or twitter @vincentjbove

References

1. The Founding Fathers on Leadership, Donald T. Phillips, p.9.
2. The Eloquent President, A Portrait of Lincoln through his Words, Ronald C. White, Jr. p. 255.
3. Lincoln on Leadership, Donald T. Philips, p.153.
4. No Ordinary Time, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II, Doris Kearns Goodwin, p.45-46.
5. The Victors, Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II, Stephen E. Ambrose, p.19.
6. Ibid. The Victors, p. 350.

Photos

1. Times Square NYC, May 8, 1945. (Unknown Author/Public Domain)
2. Four MPs take a break along a German road to read the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper about the Nazi surrender. (Courtesy U.S. Army)
3. Military personnel surrounded by civilians, Times Square, V-E Day, 1945. (Unattributed/Public Domain)
4. French civilians in Reims, France, the site of the German surrender on May 7, 1945, applaud American personnel on parade during V-E Day celebration. (Courtesy U.S. Army)

Note Well: This article was also published in The Chief of Police, Summer 2020 Edition, and distributed to police chiefs and law enforcement executives nationwide. Vincent has authored 14 cover stories and a total of 45 articles for the magazine in a special series titled Reawakening the Nation. Many of these articles are also published in his newest book Reawakening American, released in 2018, and selected by ASIS International as a finalist for the book of the year.