In the United States, today is Memorial Day, a federal holiday. For some people this day marks the unofficial beginning of summer, but for me, as someone who served for twenty years in the U.S Army, this day has a deeper meaning, a day to reflect on the lives of the brave men and women who died in the defense of this nation. Yesterday, Facebook reminded me of a posting I made on Memorial Day 2018, and I decided to share it again today in this blog posting.
“I was prompted this morning to read again the challenges to us in the Gettysburg Address, which seem so appropriate today as we remember the sacrifices of so many brave men and women. “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ”
For those of you who might be curious, the photo below is from a November 2014 blog posting entitled “Rescue of an injured Bald Eagle” that documented the capture of an injured eagle by an officer of the Fairfax County Animal Control Services at my local marshland park. Some of the photos from that posting were reprised in Washington D.C. media outlets and the posting has been my all-time most popular posting with 3472 views.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Salute Mike Powell The Celebration in America Continues
The Sun Shines in America
MEMORIES Of The Brave Who Sacrificed All
George Draney NJ
Thanks, George.
Mike, thank you for your service and for the thoughtful selection of Lincoln’s words on this day.
Twenty years in the Army, impressive and thank you. The day after AIT I started my count down calendar 😂😂. The Army is not an easy career.
Thanks, Ted. I initially enlisted for a three year stint and then decided to stay when my term was drawing to a close and my application to go to OCS was approved. Military service is not for everyone, but it suited me pretty well.
In my time the three year stint was just enough for two tours in SE Asia. After that I thought it time for a new career 🤣🤣
I was part of the post-Vietnam era all-volunteer army and entered active duty in 1997. I came close to being deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan, but as a specialist in Soviet/Russian affairs managed to avoid those conflict areas.