Thank you for the article covering the Rosehill Cemetery Memorial Day event (“Rosehill Cemetery honors veterans during event,” May 30). That is my son, Michael, photographed with two of his three sons. Running late to the ceremony, I couldn’t find him beforehand. After, I realized why. I had been looking for him in his American Legion uniform — with the crisp white shirt and the colorful medals on the chest pocket. But for this year’s parade and ceremony, he wore a simple T-shirt, emblazoned with “Veterans for Peace.” I was wearing my green Operation Iraqi Freedom T-shirt, one that Michael sent me during his tour, the one I now wear every Memorial Day. Like my son, I cry during this moving ceremony.
I have cried every Memorial Day since 2007. That Memorial Day, I couldn’t stop the tears as I listened to the speeches at Edison Park’s Monument Park, not knowing exactly where my son was in Iraq, knowing only that he was out searching for missing soldiers from an ambush that had taken place May 12. He had already helped recover soldiers’ bodies at the ambush site. He had just turned 21.
Now, I cry tears of grief and tears of gratitude. I cry tears of gratitude because he returned. If he hadn’t, I would not only have the unbearable loss of my son, but also, my husband and I would not have these three beautiful, boisterous grandsons. How many generations have been lost over how many wars because of the deaths of so many, too many, young soldiers? I cry tears of grief for all the soldiers who have been killed in war and also for those who have returned but suffer so much. My tears are shed for their families who must forever endure these losses.
Michael Weidman spoke on behalf of the cemetery at the ceremony, and his eloquent words describing the many ways veterans pay for our freedom are heartbreakingly true.
This Memorial Day, after the speeches and songs and the playing of taps were over, when we finally met up, I gave Michael a hug and said how hard this day always is for me, for us. And we are the lucky ones.
— Jane O’Connell, Chicago
I moved with my family to Germany in 1946. My father was on a three-year assignment there. While I was there, I saw the introduction of the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt the economies of Germany and Japan.
The investments that our country made in those countries made it possible for families to continue to live in their own countries. The Marshall Plan created jobs, which in turn provided families with income they used to feed their families and to keep a roof over their heads. By providing money to local police departments, those departments had resources they needed to protect families from gangs.
The success we had in the 1940s can be repeated now, but it will require vigilance on our part to make sure that the governments of countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua and Haiti are unable to put funds into their pockets instead of their citizens’. With funds in citizen’s pockets, they will no longer have to trek 1,000 miles or more to feed their families.
I believe what is needed now is for our country is to develop a Central American “Marshall Plan,” which I believe will be a far less expensive way for our country to control our borders than what we are doing now.
— Frederick G. Coggin, Evanston
The need for a new Illinois flag is nonexistent, as stated by Carol Van Durme in her letter (“New Illinois flag,” May 26).
When I read state Sen. Doris Turner’s pleas for a contest to design a new Illinois flag, I thought about how our flag was and continues to be beautiful, with a contest being a waste of time. Look at the other 49 state flags. Not one of them looks better than our Illinois flag.
If a new flag was to be created, it would have to include tears in order to reflect the condition of Illinois. The proposed contest to create a new flag will become a mandate when a “winner” is declared. Once the contest begins, the organizers will claim we are obligated to accept the declared winner’s design, even if it is not an apparent improvement.
The fix-it-even-if-it’s-not-broken approach is not needed in Illinois. Too many real issues need our and our leaders’ attention.
— Robert Tingler, Palatine
The news media have declared the primary election season open. Assuming we get something more than attack-your-opponent ads, it’s a good time to listen carefully to the men and women running for political office. Does the person’s platform expand, retain or constrict our basic freedoms and our democracy? Does the person want to deprive us of freedom of speech by making a law banning political statements on T-shirts? Does the person want to restrict our freedom of assembly by banning peaceful parades? Does the person want to take the place of a parent and narrow the education our children receive by banning books containing subject matter they personally find offensive? Does the person want to drive from office legislators and prosecutors with whom he or she doesn’t agree?
So listen carefully and judge the political ads wisely. Then, with your vote, you can help decide whether we will retain our basic individual liberties and the democracy that has served us well for 250 years.
— Richard J. Aronson, Highland Park
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Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Letters: Why I shed tears on Memorial Day
6
0
03.06.2023
Thank you for the article covering the Rosehill Cemetery Memorial Day event (“Rosehill Cemetery honors veterans during event,” May 30). That is my son, Michael, photographed with two of his three sons. Running late to the ceremony, I couldn’t find him beforehand. After, I realized why. I had been looking for him in his American Legion uniform — with the crisp white shirt and the colorful medals on the chest pocket. But for this year’s parade and ceremony, he wore a simple T-shirt, emblazoned with “Veterans for Peace.” I was wearing my green Operation Iraqi Freedom T-shirt, one that Michael sent me during his tour, the one I now wear every Memorial Day. Like my son, I cry during this moving ceremony.
I have cried every Memorial Day since 2007. That Memorial Day, I couldn’t stop the tears as I listened to the speeches at Edison Park’s Monument Park, not knowing exactly where my son was in Iraq, knowing only that he was out searching for missing soldiers from an ambush that had taken place May 12. He had already helped recover soldiers’ bodies at the ambush site. He had just turned 21.
Now, I cry tears of grief and tears of gratitude. I cry tears of gratitude because he returned. If he hadn’t, I would not only have the unbearable loss of my son, but also, my husband and I would not have these three beautiful, boisterous grandsons. How many generations have been........
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