Dunge Dispatch: Memorial Day Musings
Memorial Day came and went. In the United States, the last Monday of May is reserved as a federal holiday, to honor our war dead. Some take the time to observe the actual day, commemorating family or loved ones who gave their lives in defense of our country. Many others use the holiday to kickstart their summers, often without so much as a second thought to why they have the day off. As Memorial Day approached this year, my thoughts turned to those who, by all accounts, should have died in war, but returned home. Their good fortune, though, came at a high cost. This article on Bataan Death March survivor Julio Barela sparked a memory about an chance encounter and acquaintance made after returning to Texas in 2003 upon completion of my time in the Navy. At a Luby's cafeteria, of all places, my wife and I were in line one evening, and struck up a conversation with the couple behind us. Conversation turned to occupation, and when I replied I just completed a stint in...