Honor Memorial Day

For those of you who do not remember, it was five years ago, Memorial Day weekend, that I suffered a catastrophic motorcycle accident. It was one where I probably should not have survived, but for the grace of God. I had not been on a motorcycle until last November 2024 when I decided to get back on, as I have been riding since 1985. In January, I received a call from the Rolling Thunder leadership asking me to come and participate, and even speak, for the 2025 run. I am deeply humbled and honored since my last time was 2014.

Ya know, people always ask me, Colonel, how do we address this day?

I simply tell them it is not “Happy Memorial Day,” but rather “Honor Memorial Day.” It is a day (every day should be Memorial Day) that we set aside to give our increased devotion to those who made the “last full measure of devotion.” Those are the words of President Abraham Lincoln from the Gettysburg Address when dedicating the National Cemetery there, after the Battle of Gettysburg. Sadly, we have wrongly conflated this special day of memory with the opening of summer, swimming pools, and mattress sales. It should be a day when we take our children not out to a BBQ, unless we first take them to the nearest national cemetery and let them walk among the Gardens of Stone, sacred ground, the final duty station of those who served, sacrificed, and committed their lives…John 15:13.

We need to stop taking our kids to ball games on Memorial Day, where they wear the jerseys of sports figures. We should dress our kids in the attire of a Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, Coast Guardsman, or Space Force Guardian. We should teach them what a real hero does by showing them and explaining.

The pool, BBQ, and ball games will be around on any other day, but there should be something special that you do to commemorate Memorial Day with your children and Grandchildren. If we do not teach those lessons, they will be forgotten. If we Veterans do not tell the stories of how our fallen Brothers and Sisters lived, and how they died, their sacrifices can potentially be forgotten and be in vain. This is truly why we gather in Washington, DC, starting at the Pentagon, to ride through our Nation’s capital and give witness and make ourselves visible…and remind America why this day exists.

There will be tears, especially when taps is played. But there will also be a swelling of the chest, remembering the oath that binds us together, “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. A sacred oath, a special bond, a lifelong commitment, and a selfless sacrifice are what Memorial Day is all about.

So, maybe this Memorial Day, first, share the oath that these brave men and women took with your loved ones. Then find the time to go and say to them, in that quiet space known as a National Cemetery, “Honor Memorial Day.” Maybe, just maybe, someone will do just that at the gravesite of my Dad, US Army Corporal Herman West Sr., at Marietta National Cemetery. I am planning on stopping by and saying so to my Dad-in-Law, retired US Army Master Sergeant Ronald Keith Graham, buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Steadfast and Loyal.

This was published at ACRU