in memoriam
I was in Ohio the last two days attending the funeral of my grandfather (mom’s dad) in Cincinnati. He died Saturday at the age of 84. This morning we had a small, private burial service, and at the service there was a military honor guard and a bugler. He played Taps. My grandfather served in World War II. I was not old enough while he was in his more talkative years to ask about his service in any great detail, I just know that he was in the Army and served in the Pacific Theater.
This morning, standing in the sun in Cincinnati, Ohio, staring at his flag-draped casket and listening to Taps, I couldn’t help but wonder to myself about the remarkable service the men and women who fought in that war provided. I’m not just talking about service to the United States, but service to the greater good. That was an epic global war that threatened to overturn life as many knew it. Such a conflict has not occured on such a scale since. One may never occur again. And this man, to whom I’m related - served. I’m nearing the age where I doubt I’d be drafted even if there was another World War. I don’t know that I’d volunteer, because I haven’t spent much time thinking about it. But one can’t stand there, gazing upon that flag, and not wonder…
Would I? Could I? Should I?
Will there ever be an opportunity for ordinary men to have such a profound impact on the course of the world?
