A Pacifist's Memorial Day Reflection

On Memorial Day I will be thankful….


that I am no longer in the military and that I did my time

that at the age of 19 I had the conviction to not want to kill people for the government

that I received a conscientious objector status

that I was trained as a medic and did not carry a weapon

that I did not go to the killing fields of Vietnam

that instead of entertaining daily thoughts of dying I entertained troops with music

that I do not cherish the idea that other soldiers died for me or my freedom



On Memorial Day I will remember….


those who, like myself, did not want to spend their youthful years in the military

those who left this country rather than going to war to kill

those conscientious objectors who served their country through alternative service

those young men who went to war and died believing the war was not justified

those young men who went to war and died believing the war was justified

those older men still suffering from the nightmares of war

those young men we called “enemies” who went to war and died for their own country

those politicians and common people who pressed for more military money and an escalation of the war as young men returned home in flag draped coffins

I will remember