Women of Hope Project works closely with our military in Afghanistan.  It is only fitting that we honor those fallen warriors who gave their all, for the freedoms we enjoy today. Having served side by side with too many of my Marine friends who sacrificed their life, Memorial Day has a special meaning for me.

My earliest memories about this day consists of our family driving to the store where flowers were sold especially for Memorial Day and then visiting the cemetery where my grandfather was laid to rest.  We planted the flowers to honor him.  Not much was said as mum and dad prepared the soil.  My sisters and I would wander about the cemetery trying to find the oldest tombstone or perhaps play a game of tag on the gravel road; an activity that always brought a stern look.  Although I did not grasp the full meaning of this yearly ritual until years' later, and in a very surprising way, I knew the reason for remembrance at an early age.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A (very) Brief History of Memorial Day

The first occurrence of the observation of Memorial Day was just following the Civil War and the day was meant to honor and remember those that had died in the war. The holiday didn't originally begin as Memorial Day but as Decoration Day. The first observance of Decoration Day occurred at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868. The first observance service in Arlington National Cemetery was a procession through the graves that involved placing flowers and American Flags on each grave to remember the soldiers lost. This service also was accompanied by the singing of hymns and songs. Some communities still observe the holiday in this way.

In 1967, Congress officially changed the name of the holiday from Decoration Day to Memorial Day. When the change was made, Congress scheduled Memorial Day for the last Monday of the month of May each year.

Over time, the Memorial Day weekend has become just another three-day weekend to have fun, BBQ or picnic. It has lost some of the meaning from its original beginnings. As a result, there has been a movement to fix the day of observance as May 30th, regardless of the day of the week it falls upon. Some believe that changing the date to a specific day, rather than a day designed to provide a three-day weekend, will remind people what it is all about.

And they died for it.

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast,
And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

One of the duties a Marine hopes to never be assigned as, is that of a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO).  I was no different.  It's not because of the tedious work involved; it has to do with knowing one of our own has fallen. The CACO represents the Commandant of the Marine Corps, to render assistance to the next-of-kin in handling all phases of decedent affairs. 

For me, CACO duty was both challenging and rewarding.  The Marine's next-of-kin is depending on you for assistance during this very tragic time in his or her life. It has enriched my life in ways too complicated and too numerous to mention.  However, there's one thing that seemed central to me when I worked with a family or community around the death of a Marine.  I found myself returning again and again to a simple notion: that in the memories of the living, the dead find their sure immortality.  We carry them in our hearts, we tell the stories of what they have meant to us, and if we believe we do owe them something - if their living had real meaning for us - then we live our own lives differently because they touched us, taught us, gave us some essential part of what is ours today.

Earlier, I mentioned that it was in a surprising way that the full extent and true meaning of Memorial Day was injected into my heart.  This isn't the time to go into the details, but it occurred the day that I was

Corporal Ian T. Zook

honored to speak at a park dedication in memory of the legacy of Marine Corporal Ian T. Zook, 24, of Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Ian died as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on October 12, 2004.  I did not know Corporal Zook, although we were in Iraq at the same time.  What I learned about him from his family, friends, and the community who championed for the park was that he was destined to serve humanity even if he hadn't become a Marine.  When he did not have to raise his right hand and swear before his God to serve and protect this nation and its people, he did just that.  We all owe him an eternal debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.  We also owe the Zook family, and all who loved him a debt - one that can never be settled.

Afghan's Have a Legacy, Too

I can't end this letter without mention of the brave women and men of Afghanistan killed in action defending their villages and their Country.  Who tells their stories?  The Afghan who falls in defense of his or her freedom is every bit a hero as Corporal Zook.

I recently read an article from the New York Times that tells of the change in the way village elders are reacting to the Taliban.  In the mid-1990s the killings of village leaders were common practice when the Taliban were seeking to take over Afghanistan.  Back then, the Taliban were able to terrify the others by killing just a few elders, and thus found it easier to gain dominance.

The elders who were attacked this week were from villages that had recently received grants worth a few thousand dollars from Afghanistan's National Solidarity program, which is one of the government's most successful efforts to spur grass-roots development projects. The Taliban, hearing of the awards, demanded the money.

"These elders were the heads of their village councils, and the enemy had killed six of those elders for no clear reason," said an Interior Ministry statement.

"These wild killers did not show mercy to the tribal elders; they shot them and then escaped," the statement said.

"The last time, the Taliban did the same thing in this place and they took all the money, which was given to the village elders," General Ishaqzai said. "This time the elders did not want to give the Taliban the money. That is why they took them from their houses and killed them."

Tribal elders have been killed by the Taliban across the south and east of the country; in recent months, elders in Kandahar Province have been especially hard hit. At least 13 have been shot since February.

Much of the success of Women of Hope Project comes from the relationship between Betsy and the Elders.  It is their trust in her that enables us to help the village in the ability to become and remain self-sufficient. 

Please join us at Women of Hope Project in pausing to reflect and honor the sacrifice of these murdered elders who stood up to the Taliban with hope to gain a more secure life in Afghanistan and a better future for their children.

What we do with our lives is what we offer up to our beloved dead. How we remember them, and speak of them, is how they achieve "sure immortality." There are too few opportunities to speak together as a community, tell the stories of those who lived, loved us, and left us behind in death. Let us take the time this Memorial Day to remember, to honor, to share the story of those who served on our behalf. In the time we have together, let us tell one another stories of those whose life has made a difference.

 
As always, thank you for supporting Women of Hope Project with your generous donations.  Together, we can make a difference! 

Sincerely,

Sharon D. Jacko

President

Women of Hope Project