UTICA — “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure,” Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying.
1st Sgt. Karissa Binckley reminded those who attended Utica’s Memorial Day observance of Lincoln’s words, and said Memorial Day is more than just another day off.
“It is a time to honor those who died in service to our nation, from the Revolutionary War to the present,” said Binckley, a member of the 211th Maintenance in Newark. “I am pleased to take this opportunity to honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard who have proudly served our nation and have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep our country free. For over 230 years — from the Revolutionary War to the global war on terrorism — our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have always been willing to fight, and, in many cases die, for our freedom and the way of life we enjoy, but unfortunately, many of us take for granted.”
Binckley said many people confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day. Unlike Veterans Day, she said, which is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of all veterans, Memorial Day is a sacred day of remembrance for all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in service to the country.
Binckley, a member of American Legion Post 92 in Utica, quoted the words of a veteran service organization: “America’s collective consciousness demands that all citizens be reminded of the deaths of their fellow countrymen during wartime. By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice.”
From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to World War II up to present, Binckley said, the American soldier has fought to preserve democracy, defeat tyranny, end the threat of communism and preserve freedom.
“As the new century dawned on our great nation, the American soldier was once again sent to defeat an enemy that had struck our homeland and changed our nation forever. As history has taught, the global war on terrorism will not be the last time the noble American soldier will fight and die for this great country,” she said.
“On this Memorial Day 2008, we are once again involved in hostilities in foreign lands. ... Our nation is still able to call upon its sons and daughters to go into harm’s way to protect us and defend our way of life,” she continued. “With over 4,000 killed in action in the global war on terror, the youth of our nation continue to fight and die for a cause larger than themselves. These young soldiers, airmen, Marines and sailors are part of an unending line of proud citizens who answered our nation’s call to duty. It is the service of the servicemembers around the world, and especially in the combat zones, that mark their sacrifice.”
These servicemembers, she said, “symbolize the nobility of selfless service and sacrifice, and even loss of their very lives, by those who answer the call to duty.”
“Our most potent weapon in this war, without a doubt, is the brave men and women in uniform,” said Binckley. “They come from all across America, from small towns and cities such as Utica, and from various backgrounds. They volunteered and answered their nation’s call to duty. Many of them will go to war and some of them will not return. We must not forget their sacrifice.”
The Utica High School band played the National Anthem and “I’m Proud to be an American.” Boy Scout Troop 28 was in attendance. A rifle salute and the traditional playing of “Taps” on the bugle concluded the observance.
