With Memorial Day upon us, known until 1967 as Decoration Day, now is the time to not only thank those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also to commit to triumph over these turbulent times to maintain American greatness.
The moment has come for all Americans to re-create the selfless spirit of those that won World War II and built a great nation, and to become the new Greatest Generation. Today, we must address our lack of faith in our institutions, both private and public.
My dad’s generation grew up during the Great Depression and fought in WWII, or worked to help win it. They were low-key citizens who returned to ordinary lives. At home, there were those who produced war goods, served in government or provided moral support to overseas troops. It was the generation that gave us the unique sight of women in uniform. Many postponed their careers to fight in the war. It was the “Greatest Generation” ever because they saw their duty as the right thing to do, not to gain fame and recognition.
My dad was an ensign on the USS Pensacola for three years, three months and three days in the South Pacific.
So, what happened? When did we sacrifice solid American values and instead start wallowing in greed, power and self-centeredness? It may have been in the late 1900s, when the self-sacrifice and teamwork that helped the United States to persevere began disintegrating into greed and materialism.
The enemies today are not Japan, Italy or Germany. Instead, they are domestically produced: global warming, mass shootings, conspiracy theories, domestic terrorism, the nation’s political divide, a growing antigovernment sentiment, the high costs of higher education and health care, the misuse of technology through fake news, an economy that doesn’t work for all, the missing middle class, an appeal to authoritarianism, over $36 trillion in debt, and more.
There’s a crying need for Americans of all ages to step up and live the noble ideals that carried us through tough times – not just World War II, but also the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, Korean War, Watergate, Vietnam War, the 9/11 attacks, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Today, there are serious enemies to our greatness: A country which teaches our kids to put forth an effort only when they can expect a big reward and to work at jobs not to earn money for college, but to spend on useless stuff. There is the birth of artificial intelligence, which will fundamentally change our country and the world.
There is apathy, a force of inertia that keeps us addicted to cell phones, social media and things devoted to our pleasures.
There is still too much anger and violence, in our schools and in our neighborhoods, in society and of course, in our hearts.
We need to usurp the “Greatest Generation” — to seize control of our future and ensure the United States’ purported prominence as the world’s most powerful nation. We must make a new commitment to public service and contributions beyond just political agendas.
We need to continue to share our unique talents overseas, offering the latest techniques in such areas as producing safe drinking water, operating farms, building schools, providing medical assistance and so much more.
On the home front, we need new volunteers to work in our schools, civic organizations and charities, and to help revitalize our communities.
We need parents to run for school boards and to help their kids with homework. We also need courageous community leaders who will help local governments manage the public’s business without fear of mean-spirited personal attacks. We need people to help tutor at-risk kids and to register new voters.
We still need all Americans to show us we still have the right stuff and that war is not the only way to prove greatness. Sacrifice, unity, hard work and humility must once again define the American character.
We’re not a broken nation but simply unfinished and always striving not to become perfect, but to become a “more perfect union” as enumerated in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.
Memorial Day is not a relic of the past, but a living call to action — a reminder that the freedom and security we enjoy are fragile, and must be protected and cherished.
Today, “We the People” should all get to work or risk losing our 249-year experiment, thus becoming the “Worst” Generation.”
Jim Martin can be reached at jimmartinesq@gmail.com.
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