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 freedom is not only a privilege, but a sacred responsibility.

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

Honoring American Sacrifices

Before continuing, I am compelled to share experiences my wife and I had visiting both World War II American military cemeteries in Italy.

We visited these sacred grounds to honor Americans who offered the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Respecting our military, and reverence for those who lost their lives in service of our freedom, is an indisputable principle for reawakening America.  It is also one of the nine Principles of American Policing.

Reflections of these visits are memorialized in the journal I maintained during our travels and are as follows:

June 21, 2023: Florence American WWII Cemetery Journal Entry

“In the afternoon, we traveled from Florence, Italy to the Florence American WWII Cemetery, 7 ½ miles south in Impruneta to honor American hero’s from World War II.

“On these sacred grounds lie 4,393 Americans.

“There is also a large sculptured figure on site titled ‘The Spirit of Peace.’  There are also tablets with 1,409 names engraved upon them as missing in action.

“While walking these hallowed grounds, we felt mystically connected these sacred souls, a deeper appreciation of America, and profoundly aware of the price of freedom.”

July 1, 2023: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery Journal Entry

“Today we traveled 1.5 hours by train from Rome to the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in the town of Nettuno.

“We then walked 25 minutes from the station to the cemetery. We believed we were morally obligated as Americans to visit both resting places for our World War II heroes.

“These visitations were enriching spiritual experiences that will be forever engraved into our souls.

“Here in Nettuno is the sacred burial ground of 7,858 Americans. Also, in the on-site chapel an additional 3,095 names are engraved into stone. These are the missing in action, and lost or buried at sea.

“In my next article for The Chief of Police I will memorialize this experience. Honoring American military sacrifices is critical for law enforcement and all privileged to call America their home.  It will be my responsibility to honor this principle, and to encourage others to do the same.”

America’s Flag Demands Respect

As we honor Memorial Day, respect for America’s flag is essential.

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 full-staff flag, it reminds all 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 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 Arlington gravestones.

Afterwards, these soldiers patrol the cemetery 24 hours per day, throughout Memorial 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. He 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.

He 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. 

She was his surviving sister, and my dear friend who since then has also passed on. 

Marie inspired me by her devotion to her brother. She visited his grave on a monthly basis for over 40 years while she was healthy enough to do so. She personified the spiritual work of mercy of respect and prayers for her deceased brother.

Sacker is buried in Beverly National Cemetery. His sister said, “Visiting the grave of my brother, and remembering all who made the ultimate sacrifice, reminds me of America's character.”

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 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 42nd Infantry Division, Vermont Army National Guard.

Peter and Marion Dooley, Mark's parents, invited me to this solemn event. I had met Marion at my 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 the story of her son, and let me know she would be sending me details of his upcoming internment.

Although there are many vignettes that can be used to capture the event at Arlington, I will never forget the expressive faces of those who honored Mark. 

Also, the “clip-clop” of horse hooves in soothing cadence transporting the caisson that carried Mark’s remains are etched in my memory. It was the perfect orchestration of nature and emotions during the one-mile procession to Mark’s final resting place. It appeared that even the horses sympathized with the gravity of the interment.

Final Reflections

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

Perhaps these words, from President John F. Kennedy will assist 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

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on critical American issues.

He authored eighteen cover stories for The Chief of Police and an additional 300 articles in numerous publications. His recent books are Reawakening America and Listen to Their Cries.

Bove is recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, and former confidant for players from two world champion New York Yankee teams.

He served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy victim’s families and authored the report Crisis of Leadership: A Response to the Virginia Tech Panel Report on their behalf.  

Bove has conducted extensive leadership presentations for the FBI, the United States Military Academy, law enforcement, educators, security professionals, and students nationwide.

 “We must all serve as catalysts to protect our workplaces, schools, communities, public spaces, and houses of worship. Public safety demands ethical leadership, vigilance, and collaboration.  Security demands comprehensive enhancements, on-going training, effective response to warning signs, and building bridges with law enforcement, private security, and every member of the community.”  Vincent J Bove

Photos

1. Florence American Cemetery, Impruneta, Italy, June 21, 2023, Vincent and Lily Bove. (Courtesy Reawakening America LLC (RALLC)

2. Florence American Cemetery, Impruneta, Italy June 21, 2023 and Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy, July 1, 2023 collage.  (RALLC).

3. Changing of the Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery. (Reawakening America LLC)

4. Internment, Lt. Mark Dooley, Arlington National Cemetery, July 13, 2007. (Reawakening America LLC)

5. U.S. Marine Lt. August Sacker, who was killed at the Battle of Saipan in World War II. (Courtesy Marie to Reawakening America LLC)

6. Internment procession of Lt. Mark H. Dooley, Arlington National Cemetery, July 13, 2007. (Reawakening America LLC)

7. U.S. Navy Sailors with Vincent J. Bove, Memorial Weekend, Manhattan 2015. (Reawakening America LLC)