I appreciate all Veterans Day celebrations, but this year it was a bit more personal than usual.

This year I went to the University of Washington to witness the dedication of the brand new UW Medal of Honor Memorial.

Let’s take a flashback.   When my blog was in its infancy (in fact it was still at Blogspot) in early 2006, some harsh words were spoken at a meeting of the UW student senate.  The issue was a motion to honor famed UW graduate Greg ‘Pappy’ Boyington, of Baa Baa Black Sheep fame.

Here is a quick summary of what set me off:

One standout speaker against the resolution was Ashley Miller, who noted that “many monuments at UW already commemorate rich white men.”

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Another person who actively opposed it was Jill Edwards, who tried to table the motion and failed, then questioned “whether it was appropriate to honor a person who killed other people”.

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Karl Smith proposed an amendment to strike any mention of how many aircraft he had shot down.

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But Jill came up with the silliest comment I can think of: She said she didn’t “believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce.”

I am used to the anti war rhetoric that breeds in our Universities, fueled by aging Vietnam era hippies now turned professors. Even so, I was shocked at the remarks, at their disdain and disrespect.  This lead me into what I have to consider my real entrance into blogging, as I followed this story for the next year, until in 2007 the measure to create a memorial for all MOH winners was passed.

Today I went to the UW and watched the parade and dedication ceremony and I was able to come full circle and see that dream was finally realized, as the UW dedicated the memorial, almost 4 years after the idea was initially brought up.  Read about the memorial here.

The ceremony was perfect, a complete abandonment of partisanship and a total focus on honoring our Nation’s heroes.  The Governor and many of our congressional delegation were on hand, as well as 16 MOH recipients, including Col Bruce Campbell, who is one of the 8 honorees on the memorial itself.

Scroll to the bottom to see some pictures, but none of the pictures do more justice to this day than these three.

The first to me emphasizes the feeling I had there, that in our own way we were seeing the changing of the guard, as the masses of ROTC cadets from all areas and services rubbed shoulders with active duty and veterans alike.  This picture of a Sea Cadet and a Veteran saluting the MOH winners captures that community of spirit and that bridging of generation.

The next is of this veteran (shown with Rep Dave Reichert) who will be ending his service soon, and reentering civilian life.  He mentioned wanting to go back to school.  If you look closely at his right hand, you will see why I had so much respect for him.  He truly paid the Price for his service.

Finally, is this young girl (name withheld by request) who was just a simple bystander. 

A cute little girl with a flag, something seen at most any parade.  She could have been just another fixture, but in my opinion she is not.

She was the true focal point of this parade, this dedication, and to me, this Veteran’s Day. 

She is the reason the men and the women who fight and die for our country do so, to protect her freedom, the freedom to be here to wave that flag.

She is also the symbol of the future of the ROTC and the military, the young child who honors our heroes today and who could be one tomorrow.  She is our hope.  Yesterday’s little kids with flags are today’s cadets, and today’s military members, and possibly tomorrow’s heroes.

In closing, this was a nice ratification of why I blog.  Sometimes, despite how I sometimes may feel, it does make a difference.  I like to think that my keeping the issue on the front burner on my blog had some impact, as did the other local and national bloggers who did likewise. 

More than likely the people who started this by their disrespect have moved on to other places.  I hope that when they see the memorial, when they read about the extraordinary men who are honored on it, they might find some regret for their hasty words.  I hope that they would pray forgiveness for their actions and for their youth.

I don’t wish them to feel shame.  I wish that they find enlightenment.

But in the end, my hope is not in them, it is in the small child with the flag, and with the Scouts and ROTC members who are primed to serve, and it is with the men and women who serve a grateful nation every day, on every continent.

And most of all, I pray to God, that he watch over and protect those who protect us, and that our Nation continues to be grateful for their service.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

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