Memorial Day – A day to remember!

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A visit to National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Columbus, Ohio on Memorial Day deepened my day of mourning and tribute to the thousands of brave men and women who laid down their life for our freedom and peace. The National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) is one of a kind established in Columbus, Ohio and is the only chosen National memorial representing the millions of veterans who served this country. I was privileged to attend the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony on May 31, 2021. 

 The memorial service was solemn with a prayer for the heroes and their families and poignant with speeches by dignitaries namely, Lt. Gen. Michel Ferriter, US Army (Retd), President and CEO, NVMM and The Honorable Rob Portman, US Senator for Ohio. The audience were deeply touched by the keynote address by Ms. Brittnay McGall, Gold Star Spouse, who shared her memory of her husband U.S. Army Sgt. Daniel McCall, who was killed in action while deployed in Iraq in 2007. The ceremony ended with wreath presentation, to the rendering of Amazing Grace by the Columbus Division Police band. 

 As a fellow veteran, I could relate to the call of duty, honour and country, that made those millions of veterans volunteer to the call of duty, wear the uniform with pride, serve the country beyond self and be prepared to even lay down their life for the sake of freedom in this land. There were many families on this day along with me, at the NVMM with their children imparting them, the value of remembrance to this great sacrifice by many brave countrymen. I was happy to see so many turn up for this event in honour of these brave men and women who laid down their life for their country , so that this could be the land of the free. 

 The Museum draws to attention an important issue faced by veterans – PTSD suicides, by an art in a gallery - DEPICTING THE INVISIBLE: A PORTRAIT SERIES OF VETERANS SUFFERING FROM PTSD. Statistics reveal that 22 veterans die each day of suicides from PTSD and the touching stories recounted by a few, make us empathize and understand trauma and suffering of veterans during and post deployment. 

As an Indian Naval veteran my thoughts cannot help but wander to my fellow veterans in India and the thousands who have sacrificed their life to keep India safe. 

 I am reminded of words of General Colin Powell and Former Secretary of State, “We have gone forth from our shores and put wonderful young men and women at risk, many of whom have lost their lives, and we have asked for nothing except enough ground to bury them in.” 

 Yes, that is the least we could do. As the Memorial day reminds us to honour these heroes, I hope every day and not just the last Monday of May, is remembered by us all to honour these brave men and women who sacrificed their life for our freedom. 

 We will never forget!

Comments

When Love 'n' Hate Collide said…
Crisp writeup on the sequence of events and the lingering thought of your service to our mother land India.
May 31, 2021 at 11:26 PM
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