If you are an elected official, then it’s a must that you attend a Memorial Day ceremony in the state you represent. Although most of our elected officials these days did not serve in the military, they have a staffer put together a few lines for a speech, and they talk about a relative who served way back when.

Here in Montana, the place to be for the elected officials was Laurel where the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery was dedicated and renamed the Yellowstone National Cemetery. Congratulations to all those who made the Yellowstone National Cemetery possible.  The Billings Gazette has the story.

Senators Jon Tester, John Walsh, and Congressman Steve Daines all attended the event. I am sure all their speeches were carefully crafted with the next election in mind – with video trackers recording their every moment.

While there were events all across the nation observing Memorial Day, I always enjoy watching the Memorial Day observance at Arlington National Cemetery. It’s on my bucket list to actually attend a Memorial Day or Veterans Day ceremony there. I’ve actually visited Arlington National Cemetery and it’s a beautiful and a sacred place.

President Obama spoke at Arlington and two parts of his speech really hit home in telling what Memorial Day is all about.

First he spoke about the children of those who gave their lives for our country, saying:

They were mothers and fathers like Staff Sergeant Michael Cardenaz, who gave his life in Afghanistan four years ago. The years since have been hard for Michael’s family. And yet, with the love of their mother, Macarena, his three youngest daughters have displayed a strength beyond their years.

Mariella, the oldest of the three, has become a mentor to other children who’ve lost their parents. Mariliz, the middle girl, was used to her dad carrying her everywhere when she was little; now 7, she shepherds her little sister, Marianna. And Marianna, who was just a baby when her dad was deployed, is starting to understand what it means that her daddy served his country. Mariella, Mariliz, and Marianna are here today. And we say to you — and to all these courageous children — your parents’ bravery lives on in you. You will never walk alone. Your country will be there to help you grow up into the young men and women your parents always knew you would be. And that’s our pledge to you.

The President also spoke about a wife of the soldier who was deployed to Korea over 63 years ago:

We draw strength as well from the love of the spouses of the fallen. Sergeant First Class Joseph Gantt was a young man but already a veteran of World War II when he met Clara Edwards on a train headed to California. He spent two years courting Clara before she finally agreed to marry him. Then, when Joseph deployed to Korea, he told his young wife to remarry if he didn’t come back. She told him no. He had a hard enough time getting her to say yes in the first place, she said. He had waited two years for her; she’d wait as long as it took for him to come home.

When Joseph went missing in action, Clara waited — she waited 63 years. Meanwhile, our country continued to work to bring home the missing from all our wars. And then, last December — last December — his remains finally identified, Joseph returned home to be laid to rest. Clara never remarried during those 63 years. And now 96 years old, she was there to welcome him home. And we are honored to have Clara Gantt here with us today.

Sadly, it seems to me that as a country we somehow have forgotten the sacrifices that some have made for us. Maybe we are just worn out from hearing about war and death, or maybe it was so common for all those years that we grew accustomed to it.

As I took my daily walk yesterday, I noticed one flag flying in my neighborhood – mine. Most stores were open yesterday – and some were advertising their big three-day Memorial Day sale that will probably go on for a week or longer. When the local evening news came on, the anchor seemed more interested in the weather than showing local Memorial Day events.

Memorial Day is still more than kicking off the summer or the big sale day or National BBQ Day.

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