Memorial Day Brought to Light

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

- Moina Michael

This weekend I attended a wedding for my niece in San Antonio, Texas. I had a chance to chat with her new father-in-law, a retired Air Force B-52 radar navigator. In 1978, I won the Airman of the Month Award at Wurtsmith AFB. The grand prize was a chance to sit in the cockpit of a B-52. I also was part of the Rapid Runway Repair Unit, oft referred to as the Elmer Fudd Squad due to the difficulty of saying "wapid wunway wepair". Our job was to clear the Michigan snows from the tarmac should the B-52s need to scramble on red alert. While he and I wouldn't be invited to the same reunion, we had a common thread for discussion.

During our conversation Bill mentioned he is a runner. In fact, he has run in a number of marathons. You have to be of a determined mind set to run a marathon. I've played a lot of sports and understand the will to win, but I can't see myself ever being capable of running 26 miles.

In the Bataan Peninsula, Luzon Island, Philippines, April 9, 1942, American and Filipino soldiers surrendered to the Japanese army and were ordered to march 60 miles to a prisoner of war camp. Exhausted from battle, and without water and food, 75,000 men were subjected to starvation, dehydration, and execution as they made their way through the jungles to Camp O'Donnell for imprisonment. As many as 11,000 died on the dusty roads between Mariveles Corregidor and San Fernando.

Bill honors the memory of the American soldiers who died in The Bataan Death March by running a marathon held annually in the desert sands of New Mexico. He is among 4,000 mostly military who endure extreme conditions as a way to commune with a generation of heroes from the past. Some wear runner's gear while others dress in full military uniform sporting a 35 pound pack. This year a special group of 32 veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts completed the 26.2 mile course - amputees.

I don't know, maybe determination isn't the right word after all. There is more than that going on with these people of honor.

On this day, I am thankful for those who died fighting for my freedom.

On this day, I am thankful for having met Bill Reynolds and humbled by the storyline of Bataan.

On this day, I am thankful Moina Michael thought a red Poppy was a way to keep all the memories alive.