Memorial Day | National Catholic Reporter

Memorial Day | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: I remember marching with my Boy Scout Troop on holidays, although the best parades were July 4th.  As far as Viet Nam, we were preventing a natural anti-colonialist revolution - but that is not the fault of our soldiers - except the Generals in the Pentagon and other leaders of the national defense establishment.  Pacifism is noble, but really only when there is a draft and you have a chance of serving. It takes no virtue to not volunteer for service.  As for the Cochran piece, there is nothing amiss in killing conscripts - for even they could otherwise be passifists.  Killing medical personnel is more than a mortal sin - it is against the laws of war.  Targeting children is immoral, even if Israel does it or we use drones to do it.  Our national has two hundred years of war - including the Civil War which beats them all rolled together.  On that one I think I have relatives on both sides. Browns, Smiths and Hartenbowers - all of whom are related by marriage.  Indeed, the Civil War is why we have Memorial Day, which some members of my mother's family used to keep rather religiously.  Of course we now remember our World War II Vets and our Viet Nam Vets - my cousin Carol's husband recently passed from cancer - probably war related.  We are also grateful for those still living - especially during the Iraq era and now home safe and sound (after scaring us half to death).