And the young people ask, " what are they marching for?" and I ask myself the same question.

I'll be marching Monday morning with our local Lions Club, and each year it seems to have less and less to do with the meaning of the day. The parade pauses at each of the monuments in the Town so that politicians can say a few appropriate remarks and the American Legion team can fire several volleys. For most of the paraders and the spectators that's just a regrettable delay in the proceedings, a chance to show the flag -- not just the US flag, but the Lions flag, the Fire Department flag, the local High School band's flag, etc. etc, and then we go off to a barbecue or to shop.

As i read the above posts, my eyes teared up. Not for the beauty of the verse as much as the reminders of the tragic waste of life in wars over decades and centuries. "When will they ever learn?".

If only enough people could consider the horrible loss and devote some energy ro figuring out a better way. For the fallen, as the Jewish tradition says, may their memory be for a blessing.

May peace prevail on earth.