Monday, May 31, 2010

On This Memorial Day

Earlier this month, a young Gainesville man, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Philip Paul Clark, who graduated two years ago from my daughter's high school, was killed in Afghanistan while serving our country there. It was very sad news, which hit our community hard. Last Friday, the funeral motorcade went through Gainesville, where he was finally laid to rest. I never knew this soldier, but I do appreciate his service and ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

Memorial Day, which is today, often touches people in a personal way when one of the fallen is a loved one. But this holiday has a more collective and historical meaning as well, giving recognition and honor to all of our past slain servicemen and servicewomen during all of the armed conflicts of our nation's past. These brave people did not decide on the policies that led them to go off to war, but simply did their duty as they were trained to do.

Heroes.

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