FROM THE WEST - June 2005
Brethren:
Every year on the last Monday in May we celebrate Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day in remembrance of those who have died in our nation's service. It is a time to remember the patriotic sacrifices of our nation's soldiers whose lives were lost in time of war and all other military conflicts that have cost the lives of American troops. General John Logan first officially proclaimed Memorial Day on May 5, 1868, in his General Order No. 11 and it was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
In remarks proclaimed by President George W. Bush last year at Arlington National Cemetery, he said, "In military tradition, no one is left behind on the field of battle. And our nation is determined to account for all the missing." The same spirit can be seen in the respect we show to each life laid down for this nation. We receive them in sorrow, and we take them to an honored place to rest. At this and other cemeteries across our country, and in cemeteries abroad where heroes fell, America acknowledges a debt that is beyond our power to repay.
President Bush also signed an act of congress proclaiming July 27th as National Korean War Veteran Armistice Day in July 2002 for the people of the United States to observe, with appropriate ceremonies, activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War Veterans. This year, July 27th will be the 52nd anniversary of that forgotten war that consumed the lives of 36,900 Americans including 8,000 that are still missing. It was not until 1995 that a national memorial was dedicated to their memory. It is the responsibility of us the living to remember and memorialize those fallen in battle so that their sacrifice is not without purpose.
This year and every year at this time, I think about the soldiers that fought in that conflict which ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953. Most of them were from the U.S. Army Reserve, as I was until I retired in 1993 after serving 33 years. I participated in three separate overseas military readiness exercises in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) as a staff member of the 311th Corps Support Command. The 311th is an Army Reserve Unit commanded by a Major General. It provides combat service/support and planning to the active Army 1st U.S. Corps headquartered in Fort Lewis, Washington.
My last deployment was in March, a cold winter month on the peninsula eighteen years ago for exercise "Team Spirit 87". I can remember spending frozen 12 hour night shifts in a bunker on Camp Humphreys, south of Seoul along Highway 1, that was used by the ROK Army before its forced withdrawal resulting from the invasion by overwhelming North Korean military forces on June 25, 1950. Our purpose as Cold War warriors was to exercise contingency plans for the unthinkable, a resumption of major hostilities with North Korea.
As American soldiers, we were resolved to accomplishing our mission despite our own individual human frailties, with courage and humility, just as we envisioned those whose lives were lost in this place long ago. In a sense, we were remembering the dead, those thousands of Americans and the thousands of U.S. troops still in the Republic of Korea ready to confront a new invasion.
Let us remember the noble sacrifice of those who died and salute those who served in that conflict, several of whom are Brethren of our Lodge.
Fraternally Yours,
Marco Romey, PM
Senior Warden