When I hear the platitude "Thank you for your service" from someone who has never served in the military or any public service, I know that they have no idea of what it means to do so so. Those people who say that think it is like giving a tip to for pizza delivery.

great piece but we don't happen to be a JUST, WISE, DECENT SOCIETY. far from it and we're gonna pay big time for either not caring or keeping our collective heads in the sand. in case you have not noticed we already are. ma

During the Civil War it was legal to have a "Buyout" of military service-the rich payed some poor immigrant $300.00 (usually Irish) to die for them. One of our Ex-presidents;the CIC did this. When I arrived at my combat unit in Viet-nam I was required to sign numerous documents-next of kin notifications/insurance etc. One form that has burned in my mind after 43 years was one declaring myself as a PERSON OF NOTE. The form asked if the individual was in any way related to or involved with the following: I won't waste space here but the Form listed every politician from the president down to mayor of a city of population over 100K. Also included were celebrities or other PERSONS OF NOTE (I assume RICH) The form asked if your death/wounding/or capture by the enemy would in any way create a media incident embarrassing to the US. If you acknowledged this you were on your way to an ac'd office in Saigon or on a Freedom Bird home. In fairness-you could opt out I guess. When I visit THE WALL in DC I always wonder what would have happened if all those 57000 heroes had declared that they were a PERSON OF NOTE. GOD BLESS AMERICA-HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

I find it fascinating when comments such as "systems" fly onto the board regarding this editorial. Duty, Sacrifice, honor all dirty words to today's far right and libertarian wings. When I returned from Viet Nam these same sentiments were expressed by the radical left. Now it is the far rights turn to take the anti-American position. Certainly it is okay for the young to sacrifice their lives so that the rest can accumulate their wealth. Let us view one form of sacrifice, the military, as noble, let us view another form of sacrifice, monetary support of the nation as thievery. To sacrifice for one's nation is not conservative nor democratic, it is not political, it is a duty to the society that you seek to uphold. Today there are far too many who refuse to do either. In their little minds all or what little they have accomplished in life they have done on their own. Sadly they fail to recognize what I recognized long ago, I survive because my brothers helped me to survive some at very high cost. Despicable, this piece is only despicable if the only view of the world you have is one in which the world contains only you. Outrageous? The only thing outrageous is that the author did not one; call out the cowardice of many and two; demand a re-instatement of the draft simply to force some to accept and see their fair share of the burden.

The draft should be reinstated for both men and women. Anyone not drafted should be required to serve the nation for two years in whatever capacity the National Service Board (a new entity that assigns tasks to those who are not drafted) requires.

We have not been a just society for some time now.

How can you possibly run a picture of Viet Nam and then criticize the Libertarian point of view? The war in Viet Nam is the ultimate symbol of Big Government gone wildly out of control. Yet Libertarians, who want to bring all troops home and massively cut government spending, are apparently the ones to blame? Here in the US, we don't get a government that wants to educate it young, provide health care, provide a decent public travel infrastructure. No, we get a government that spends 1/3rd plus on military. We get one that wastes a huge amount of health care dollars on needless insurance and over-priced drugs and care. So yes, absolutely, cut the government to the bone. End the wars now! The Libertarians and Greens are the only ones challenging the military-industrial complex

A true and thoughful article written by the author from Revere. It will be lost on the GOP propagandists here who believe, in all cases, the little people get what they deserve.

Globe article starts out by stating that Memorial Day is to remember our fallen veterans. But I was quite CONFIDENT that the anti-military, liberal Globe wouldn't stop there. And sure enough we get the following: "The fault lies not with them but with a society that has lost its sense of fairness. You can see the same lopsided morality at work in the arguments over health care and taxes" The Globe can't stand the fact that the purpose of Memorial Day was, is, and will be ONLY for our fallen veterans. Frankly, I'm surprised that the paper gave any coverage to Memorial Day parades at all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I am the brother of a fallen Vietnam War Veteran, and I don't need to see revisionist history and lectures from the Globe as to what this holiday actually means. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Why don't you just save your liberal lecturing and pontificating for ANOTHER day?

There are people who sacrifice themselves for their country, and sadly there are people who sacrifice their country for themselves. State Street Corp, is presently doing in sending hundreds of American jobs to INDIA after a receiving a TARP bailout package (essentially from the American people) of between $2-3 Billion. This activity, as American, goes against my "belief system", the very carbon that distinguishes one human being from another. "A belief system" which seems to be something that no one in corporate America seems to have anymore. My uncle "John" was my hero in life and he still is, despite the fact that he passed away a few years ago. My uncle "John W. Kiely" was a US Army Ranger who fought in the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The one most defining moment in my life is when my mother gathered us around the dinner table in the late 1960s, around the time of the TET Offensive - I was probably six or seven years old at the time - and she put a salt shaker in the middle of the table and surrounded the salt shaker with several other condiments. She said "This is your Uncle John, and this is the enemy. We are all worried about your Uncle John right now. He is surrounded by the enemy right now in Vietnam and no one has heard from him in three or four days." What she was trying to say was that it is very likely that our Uncle John was killed in action by North Vietnamese forces during the TET offensive. I wished she had never told me that because I can remember that moment which occurred forty two years ago, like it happen yesterday. My Uncle John is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, You can Google his name and it will show you that he was survived by my mother the late "Maureen Kiely Armstrong". It the end, however, my Uncle John was not, in fact, killed in action, but that he and his troops fought through their entrapment and met up with US Forces. During the Second World War - another uncle of mine - Daniel J. Kiely, was trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge, when his rifle company was over run by a much large force of SS Troops. My mother told me that someone from the War Department visited her family home in Providence, and gave her mother - my grandmother, a note stating that her son was missing in action. My mother always told me how this was extremely hard on my grandmother and my mother because they were the only ones left in the house, while my grandfather and my three uncles were all off serving in the armed forces. Within a week or so, Patton's Army group over-ran the German's position and my uncle who was hiding in a deserted Barn, was reunited with US Troops. State Street should start supporting the US the way my uncles and all of our uncles..did.

All 'holidays' are convenient opportunities for social/political editorial. Now, the system works for some; 1%ers and many in the great middle class. A just, wise decent society is not something that exists. It is something to reach for, never to be grasped. The pantheon of State and/or Federal holidays are granted by governments and employers as their version of "bread, circuses!". Fringe benefits. On Labor Day we do not memorialize, to any measurable extent, those who died at work, even though their numbers exceed by exponent the legions killed in our wars. There is no Traffic Safety Day, Smallpox or Malaria Day either. We have two official Federal holidays, Spring and Fall, devoted to military service. Three, if you include July 4th with all its rockets red glare and parading of national escucheons and starry stripy bunting. Memorial Day is to recognize sacrifice. "Supreme sacrifice", thank you Mr. President Lincoln. My niece asked why I was crying at the Wall in DC. All I could say was, "thank you". There are rumblings here of volunteer vs. conscription, national and military service. Would we be juster, wiser, or more decent if we filled our cemetaries and VA hospitals with a more representative egalitarian cross-section of sacrificees? Why does this question matter here on this thread, but not to our national leaders? Here's why: The People will always reach for, even if it is never fully grasped, justice, wisdom, and decency. Our leaders just need cannon fodder by whatever means, in order to pursue "diplomacy by other means". The 1% NEVER objects because it avails the profiteers of "prosperity by all available means". If pounding swords into ploughshares were truly financially advantageous, archaeologists would have found fewer bronze weapons. Since Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia, we continue to throw our children into the fiery maw of our obsession. There is nothing for us to do but to grieve and say thank you.

And how long ago was that, may I ask?

Way off the mark, Mr Merullo. Way off. The draft was what laid the burden of war upon the have nots! The all-volunteer military virtually ensures that a young man or woman can enter the military, select a career field of their choice and steer as clear of the combat zone as they wish. Or they can forgo the military altogether! How about that?! In your haste to lay criticism, you screwed up your point which I can only guess was to say that the burden of war has been left to the same troops who re-deploy time and time again because they are all we have. A valid point if that was what you were trying to say, but what I really think you were doing was just complaining. You'd be better off to keep your misguided opinion to yourself and go buy a vet a sandwich, ask them how they are and express to them the true gratitude that they deserve. Memorial Day, my friend, remember that!

Men and women died for this country and instead of honoring them, you preach your entitlement Society. Buddy, do you have a clue what's going on in Europe? Greece's entitlement is society is a bust. Your disgusting. BTW: NYT is going to sell the Boston Globe and I understand why. If you did not know this fun fact start reading real news. Speaking on the 1%, the NYT editor walked away with 27 million dollars this yr and was forced out because she against selling the Boston Globe.

I will never forget your brother and others who fought for this country. Thank you

Could not agree more.

I thought this article pointed out quite clearly that Memorial Day is about the ultimate sacrifice one can make and then delved into why men and women of this country were once more compelled to do their part for the 'greater good' of it (rather than everyone 'looking out for number one' as seems to be the case nowadays). Nothing about this article angered me in the least and my father is a retired Army colonel and he was in Vietnam. This is in no way taking away from those who lost their lives figting for their country. To me, it's saying that while we remember the fallen today, it's also a good time to reflect on how everyone should do their part. It's good for us and the way things should be.

Your reflexive attack on a piece which is nothing if not patriotic, reveals who you truly are. A delusional fraud and hypocrite! But at least you "liked" your post. Expecting to be reported (the truth can sometimes be hurtful}.

If the Republicans think (now) that mandatory health insurance is unconstitutional, knowing that everyone in the USA will be transported to an ER and be treated on the taxpayers' dime if they don't have insurance, how might they react to a reinstatement of the draft if it is challenged? Isn't that the Federal government requiring an affirmative action on the part of an individual? If Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alioto et al overturn mandatory health care, how would (will} they rule on a resumption of the draft? Just wondering.

I always read the Journal for true "balance" on Memorial Day, because it's the Wall Streeters' sons and daughters who are dying in Afghanistan. I pride myself on maintaining a certain amount of decorum in posting, but you present a real challenge.

My sincere appreciation to your family for its service and sacrifice!

Mr Chucklhead, with all due respect, your post is incomprehensible except for your worthy exhortation to recognize veterans for their service. Honestly, I don't think that you understood Mr Merullo's point.