Barbara J. Hamby

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A Day of Remembrance

Like many others who were alive sixty-three years ago on Pearl Harbor Day, I’ve thought about it some today and also read and heard about it a lot. I have long ago written about my reactions as a twelve-year old when I first heard the news that day. I didn’t know where Pearl Harbor was. I didn’t know what war was. Today I know more than I want to.

We send our beautiful young men and women to war. Some return with mutilated bodies. Some return with damaged minds. Some return to rest in peace in military cemeteries. No one who goes to war and returns is ever the same as before.

A few of the officials who run our government have been to war. Many have not. Probably the same is true of the executives who run the major corporations in this country. They stay at home and sort their stock certificates.

They tell us our sons and daughters are fighting to protect our freedom. In some sense that is true. Sadly, the beautiful young people and the older ones who stay here and protest to protect our freedoms are persecuted and prosecuted. True, they will probably not be shot nor will they be blown up by land mines on foreign soil. Some will be wounded by police. Some will serve time and carry criminal records with them forever.

Today I want to remember all those who defend what freedom we still have. Thank you. May your holidays be blessed. Joy can never be complete without peace.