On this day, each of us has a story. We've seen the price paid that we all freely agreed to go ourselves. Each of us has witnessed the tragedy and suffering that resulted. This day, we put quarrals aside and deal with loss. That is proper, and I offer the following.
The concept of "sacrifice" is a deep one. Men have written thousands of pages about the idea. It can be glibly described as "putting off immediate gratification for future gain". But those of us who've been so close to this particular fire knows that it's so much deeper than that. Our brothers endured that fire for us. Being a part of that has certain moral imperatives that are unfamiliar to many in this modern society.
Having seen what we've seen, that imperative is that we each get our own sacrifice right in recognition of their larger sacrifice. The things we do every day, the setting aside of proximal comfort in recognition of future potential. We have to live our lives in such a way so as to earn what they have freely and finally given to us.
And so, as I sit here and get morosely drunk over a period of several hours, I will ask myself questions: "Is my sacrifice deep enough to honor them? How should I change my behavior to make that sacrifice good enough to justify what they gave to me?"
I haven't found the bottom of that particular well, but I dig at it as much as I can. This is the day to do so, and these Americans are the best reason to do so. I urge you to kick it around on your own, apply these things to what motivates you to become better. Throw that burden on your back and own it as you walk your path, with as much grace as you can muster. That is the lesson that they've left for us, and the best way to represent ourselves to their memory.
Momento mori, my friends.
