Editor,
On this cold and gloomy Memorial Day, I walk on hallowed ground at Golden Gate National Cemetery. I pause a moment, and wait for the sun to rise. I look around at the pity of war, evidenced in adumbrated writing upon the white headstones. In shadowy sketches is written the names of brave loved ones who died to keep America free.
A sob escapes my throat as I survey the rows, and rows of tombstones. I whisper the names, too many to count, written on the headstones of those who now, in cold dark chambers dwell, and sleep the eternal sleep.
Though absent in the flesh, alone, and lonely, yet forgotten, they are not: for in our hearts, we cradle them in loving memory, just as their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters did, as they knelt to pray for victory, in homes across the land. Homes where, in many hearts still echo tender lullabies, and faint memories of laughter.
And when the time for tears came, they were left with only the memories of loved, brave ones now gone, but never forgotten.
Deep in thought, my mind travels back to my own family’s brave one. Just turned 19 Uncle Santos Cervantes, who is not here, but lies in a watery grave where the U.S.S. Liscome Bay was torpedoed off Makin Island in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 24, 1943. For 79 years he has lain in a cold watery grave, with no stone to mark the spot.
This is why, every Memorial Day, I join others, whose loved ones lie here, and we walk in this garden of stones, to whisper, “thank you.” We pray as we walk to keep alive the memory of all the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice and who died to keep America free.
Maria Elena Barr
San Bruno
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(4) comments
Dear Maria - Thank you for reminding us what this Monday is about and the every day that people mourn those lost to war. My cousin Artie Popkin died in the Pacific during WWII. My mother mourned her favorite cousin until the day she died and we scattered her ashes in the Pacific to be with him.
Dear Maria-
So well written and so happy you shared, even though sad. I am printing and placing in my copy of a book I have, written by Ernie Pyle, a newspaper war correspondent during WW2. Thank you.
Maria - a beautiful tribute and well written. As a Vietnam era veteran when visiting the war memorial in DC I was overcome with sadness to see all of these names inscribed on the wall. It occurred to me that my name could have been on it, a life cut short. Think of what all of these victims could have contributed had they lived. They did what was asked of them and we should be grateful that they made the world a better place to live.
i married a vietnam veteran with a purple heart he has a Purpllle heart from shrapnel in his hande beautiful tribute our friends asked to see the purple heart they commented i never saw one of these before...i was amused when the salute to the 5 armed services he stood so straight and tall saluting a forever Marine in his heart and soul i walkWashington forever soldiers serving forever finding a friend shot by a sniper. my heart aches for the loved one left behind. may we alwaya salute then m all we watched the tribute hosted by gary sinise in washington it was very emotional sometimes i ask if we could go to the redwood city service he felt he had seen enough with the Washington service... it was beautiful
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